Madurai: Srivilliputhur Congress candidate Madava Rao, 63, dies of Covid-19

MADURAI: P S W Madava Rao, 63, the Congress candidate for Srivilliputhur (reserved) assembly constituency, passed away in Madurai on Sunday due to Covid-19 complications.
Rao had filed his nomination on March 17 and campaigned for three days before he fell sick after participating in a cadre meeting on March 20. He was admitted to a private hospital in Madurai after testing positive for the infection.On Saturday, his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit. He died on Sunday morning.
State chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo said a byelection would follow if Madava Rao emerges victorious on May 2.
Political leaders condole Rao’s death
Hailing from Watrap in Virudhunagar district, Madava Rao was a Congress member since 1986. He was also a legal consultant and dealer of petroleum products who was testing the electoral waters for the first time after unsuccessfully seeking a seat several times earlier.
He was affiliated to National Students Union of India and served as its state secretary, vice-president of Tamil Nadu Youth Congress and as adviser to the legal wing of the party.
After he fell sick, it was his Chennai-based daughter M Divya Rao who campaigned for Madhava Rao, sometimes with her eight-month-old daughter. Meanwhile, videos of Rao campaigning without a mask during his campaign are being circulated in social media. Congress leader Peter Alphonse, while condoling the death, said all those involved in public life should take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the disease.
Leaders across the political spectrum have condoled Rao’s death. They included DMK president M K Stalin, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and MDMK leader Vaiko. Congress Tamil Nadu incharge Sanjay Dutt said he was pained to learn about the sad demise of Madhava Rao. TNCC president K S Alagiri said the party had lost a very dedicated cadre who was expected to emerge victorious. He said Rao had asked for a seat in earlier elections too, but was denied. It was unfortunate that finally, when he was allotted one, he was not around to secure it.