Tamil Nadu Traders Leader T Vellaiyan Dies at 76

Chennai: Founder of the Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangagalin Peravai (federation of traders’ unions), T Vellaiyan, passed away at the age of 76 on Tuesday at a private hospital in Chennai, where he was admitted with complaints of lung infection.

Chief Minister M K Stalin and several political leaders condoled the death of the traders’ leader who took the initiative to bring them all independently functioning unions and associations under a single federation and fight for the rights and privileges of the trading community.

Stalin, who is in Chicago in lure investments for the State, said he was saddened to hear about the passing of Velliayan and conveyed his condolences to the grieving family members, friends and the traders.

Leader of the opposition in the Assembly Edappadi K Palaniswami in his message on X remembered him as a leader who worked for the welfare of the traders community in the State and PMK founder S Ramadoss recalled him taking part in the protests organized by his party on issues like the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils.

TNCC president K Selvaperunthogai, in a statement, said that Vellaiyan, inspired by the late K Kamaraj, had worked initially with the Congress and described his passing as a loss for the trading community. Many other political leaders like O Panneerselvam and T T V Dinakaran also condoled the death.

Starting his life as a small trader in Chennai, Vellaiyan started a traders’ association and slowly grew into a leader with a substantial following making the federation a powerful force to reckon with. Subsequently the federation broke and a rival federation was formed.

The body would be kept at his house in Perambur for the public to pay respects and then taken to his native village Pichuvillai near Tiruchendur, where the final rites would be carried out.