La Ganesan, favourite of BJP & friend of all, dies at 80 in Chennai

CHENNAI: Nagaland Governor La Ganesan passed away in Chennai on Friday at the age of 80.

He had been undergoing treatment at the Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road here, for the last one week, following a head injury sustained in a fall at his T Nagar residence on August 8. His condition failed to improve, and he breathed his last at 6.23 p.m.

Unlike most BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu, La Ganesan, a native of Thanjavur, who was born on n February 16, 1945, maintained steady and cordial relations with the DMK, including the late Dravidian patriarch M Karunanidhi and his son, current Chief Minister M K Stalin.

His association with the DMK was rooted in mutual respect — Ganesan, fondly known as LG, frequently attended events hosted by the Dravidian major and had a close bond beyond political limitations with Karunanidhi. He extended the same cordiality with CM Stalin as well.

Stalin noted that Ganesan chose to remain celibate and dedicate himself to public service.

READ MORE: Journalist La Ganesan, the good friend of media

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor R N Ravi, Union Minister L Murugan, and several political leaders expressed condolences, recalling his decades-long public service and commitment to Tamil culture.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was pained by the passing of Nagaland Governor La Ganesan, remembering him as a devout nationalist who dedicated his life to service, nation-building, and the promotion of Tamil culture, and conveyed his condolences to the family and admirers.

Governor R N Ravi expressed deep sorrow over Ganesan’s demise, recalling his lifelong commitment to public service with simplicity and humility, and termed his passing an irreparable loss to the nation while extending condolences to his family, followers, and the people of Nagaland.