Leelavathi, who donated kidney to MGR in 1984, dies in Chennai

CHENNAI: Leelavathi, who donated a

kidney

to former Tamil Nadu chief minister

M G Ramachandran

in 1984, died in Chennai at 2am on Friday . She was 71.

Leelavathi is the daughter of M G Chakrapani, elder brother of MGR. She donated her kidney for

MGR

while he was being treated in a Brooklyn hospital.

Leelavathi and her relatives joined the BJP in 2017 in the presence of then party state president Tamilisai Soundararajan.

AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami expressed grief over her death. In a statement, the leaders said the demise of Leelavathi, who had saved the life of MGR by donating a kidney to him, caused anguish to the crores of cadres of the party founder. “We pray to the Almighty that may her soul rest in peace and give strength to the bereaved family members to bear the loss," the leaders said. She had lived with one kidney for 37 years, they said.

Late chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s close aide V K Sasikala and AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran expressed condolences to the family.

Leelavathi is survived by two daughters.