Veerapandi S Arumugam (26 January 1937 – 23 November 2012) was a Tamil Nadu politician. He was born to Solai Goundar in Poolavari, Salem.[1]
He died on 23 November 2012 in Chennai due to illness.[2][3]
Arumugam first became a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member in 1957.[4][3] He has for decades been the face of the DMK in the Salem region. He held the Veerapandi Assembly seat with a vise-like grip.
In his early age he was inspired by the writings and speeches of the late Chief Minister and DMK founder C. N. Annadurai and party chief M Karunanidhi, Arumugam plunged into politics when he was 14. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly five times. Arumugam was among the few non-founding leaders in the DMK, who enjoyed unquestioned respect and stature.[5] He also served as the Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration and the Minister for Agriculture.[2]
