Selvam, former editor of Murasoli, passes away

Condoling his death, Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin said he shouldered the responsibility of running Murasoli, described by Kalaignar (M. Karunanidhi) as his “first child”

Selvam, the former editor of Tamil daily Murasoli, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) official mouthpiece, passed away due to a heart attack in Bengaluru on Thursday (October 10, 2024). He was 85.

A nephew of late DMK leader M. Karunanidhi, Selvam was married to his daughter Selvi. He is the younger brother of former Union Minister Murasoli Maran and the brother-in-law of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

CM Stalin condoled his death, saying he had been a guide to him since his childhood, advising him on organisational matters and offering him solutions during demanding times. “He stood shoulder to shoulder with me during my evolution as a leader of the DMK,” Mr. Stalin said.

BJP State president K. Annamalai also expressed his condolences, saying he was “deeply saddened to learn about the death of Murasoli Selvam due to ill health.”

“On behalf of Tamil Nadu BJP, my deep condolences to Selvam’s family and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin,” he added.

In 1992, Selvam was arrested and forced to stand in the interrogation box when Sedapatti Muthaiah was the Speaker.

He actively worked for Murasoli, and even on Wednesday (October 9, 2024) night, he had written a column for the publication. “He called me from Bangalore. We had a discussion about the column, and he cleared the cartoon,” said a journalist working with Murasoli. Selvam used to write under the pen name Silandhi (spider).

He is survived by his wife and daughter.

‘He gave shape to Kalaignar’s ideas’: CM Stalin

CM Stalin said Selvam shouldered the responsibility of effectively running Murasoli, described by Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) as his “first child”.

“He gave shape to the ideas of Kalaignar and Murasoli Maran. He functioned as a voice of democracy,” Mr. Stalin said.

Murasoli Sila Ninaivugal, his memoir about his association with the newspaper, remains a testament to the crisis and oppression faced by the party organ, he added. “He left a mark in the field of cinema and election works,” the Chief Minister said.

Mourning his demise, the DMK has announced that the party’s flag will be flown at half-mast for three days. 

Published - October 10, 2024 12:07 pm IST