Veteran Dravidian ideologue L. Ganesan no more

Master Dravidian ideologue L. Ganesan (92) passed away in the early hours of Sunday, January 4, 2026, at his residence on Medical College Road, Ram Nagar, Thanjavur. He had been staying with his family since 2006 due to age-related health problems.

Born in 1934 in Kannathankudi village of Orathanadu tahluk, Thanjavur district, Ganesan was inspired by the Tamil language struggle movement during his law school days and joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) founded by CN Annadurai. He took part in agitation against Indian imposition in the 1960s. Ganesan was also detained under the draconian Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency.

He is also a member of the erstwhile Tamil Nadu Legislative Council and served as a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly representing Orathanadu Assembly Segment twice in 1971 and 1989.

He later left the DMK and was one of the founding members of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by Vaiko. Ganesan had also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

In the 2004 general elections, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Tiruchi Parliamentary Constituency on MDMK ticket. However, two years later, he was removed from his post as MDMK party president by party general secretary Vaiko on the grounds of ‘anti-party activities’. He was expelled from the party in 2008 on charges that he defied the party whip during the Manmohan Singh government’s no-confidence motion to the Centre.

He later rejoined the DMK and was hailed as: “Mozhipor Talapati” (linguistic warfare commander). He remained a member of the party’s senior executive committee.

His funeral will be cremated in his hometown on January 5, 2026. He left behind his wife, two sons and a daughter.