CPI Stalwart Nallakannu Dead, CM Stalin Announces Full State Honours For Funeral
Chennai: Senior CPI leader and freedom fighter R Nallakannu passed away on Wednesday at a government hospital here where he was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments. Party sources said he was around 101 years old.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin paid fervent tributes and announced all the ceremonies of the state at the funeral of the departed leader. Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum and intense tributes were paid to the Left leader.
The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital bulletin stated that Nallakannu passed away at 13.55 on February 25, 2026, after all vital organs failed despite intensive care.
It was stated that there were fluctuations in the health condition of the CPI leader, who was taken to the Intensive Care Unit on February 1 following the illness.
Nallakannu’s intensive care was managed by a multidisciplinary team during his 24-day hospital stay.
However, he gradually became unresponsive to medications “from early this morning” and his condition deteriorated rapidly, the Madras Medical College-Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital said in the bulletin.
In his message, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi said that Nallakannu dedicated his life to public service in the spirit of simplicity and steadfast dedication. “His death leaves a void that will be deeply felt. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” Ravi said.
In his condolence message, Stalin heaped praise on Nallakannu as an uncompromising warrior who strived for the freedom of the nation. The CPI leader had always remained true to his belief that Communist and Dravidian ideologies were comrades who should serve as double-barreled weapons for social change.
The CM praised the Left leader for dedicating his life for the welfare of the working class. Former Prime Minister M Karunanidhi honored Nallakannu by presenting him with the Ambedkar Award.
Stalin said: “It was a great chance for me to have the opportunity to present the ‘Thagaisal Thamizhar’ (Distinguished Tamil) Award to our comrade on behalf of our Dravidian model government.”
Nallakannu’s recollection of the Left leader saying during the centenary celebrations that “the Communist movement lives like him” resonated in his memory. Moreover, the memory of Nallakannu, who lived his life completely for the masses, will be etched in the hearts of the people forever.
Further, the CM said: “I offer my deepest condolences to the grieving family members, relatives and all comrades of the Communist movement who are mourning the loss of our comrade… Let us bid farewell to our dear comrade, the eminent Tamil, with full state honours, paying our solemn respects.”
Condoling the death, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said Nallakannu was a great leader who “lived for others and not for himself”.
Born on December 26, 1925, in Srivaikuntam of Tuticorin district, to farmer Ramasamy and Karuppayi, Nallakannu is the third child of a family of ten children. He is survived by his two daughters and grandchildren. Her husband Ranjitham died at the age of 82 in Chennai in 2016. Hers was an interfaith marriage.
Nallakannu took up the social cause and ensured that sand mining in Thamirabarani River was banned.
Paying high tribute to RNK, as he is fondly called, CPI said, “Comrade R Nallakannu lived a life of unwavering dedication to the communist movement, the struggles of workers, peasants and the oppressed, and the values of secularism, democracy and social justice.”
In 2022, the senior Communist Party of India leader returned the Thagaisaal Tamilar prize money, which included a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, and also gave Rs 5,000 of his own money as a contribution to the Prime Minister’s Public Relief Fund. He returned the financial aid and car previously offered to him to the party.
P Sainath, in his book ‘The Last Heroes: Foot Soldiers of Indian Freedom’, published by Penguin and republished in PARI for Independence Day 2024, says Nallakannu’s activism started early, campaigning for the Congress at the age of 12 and joining the CPI three years later.
Comrade RNK later emerged as one of the most important figures of the Communist movement in Tamil Nadu. The book stated that from the moment Congress campaigned for its Majal petti (yellow box) in the 1937 poll, it started seeking support for Sengodi (red flag).
Lenin, Marx, Periyar, Ambedkar, revolutionary Tamil poet Subramania Bharati, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were deep sources of inspiration for him. They were the founding leaders of the farmers’ movement in Tamil Nadu.
CPI general secretary D Raja said Nallakannu’s death marked the end of an era in the history of India’s freedom struggle and Communist movement.
“His birth date coincided with the founding day of the Communist Party of India; this rapprochement would later be reflected in a life completely devoted to the party and its ideals,” he said.
In his post on ‘X’, Raja said that he served as CPI Tamil Nadu State Council secretary, providing principled leadership based on Marxist ideology, intra-party democracy and constant mass struggles.
“Comrade R Nallakannu’s life stands as a shining example of ethical politics and selfless service and his legacy will continue to guide and strengthen our struggle for a secular, democratic and socialist India,” Raja said. he added.
CPI state secretary M Veerapandian, CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam, Union Minister L Murugan, Tamil film superstar Rajinikanth, actor-politician Kamal Haasan and several leaders expressed their condolences on his death.
