R.M. Veerappan, the most trusted lieutenant of late MGR, passes sway

R.M. Veerappan, influential minister under M.G. Ramachandran, faced political downfall after supporting Rajinikanth against Jayalalithaa.

R.M. Veerappan, one of the powerful ministers in the cabinet led by late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran in the 1980s and a close associate of the matinee-icon turned politician, died in Chennai on April 9, aged 98. He is survived by three daughters and three sons.

RMV, as he was called, was also a member in the ministry of the late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, but was expelled by her in 1995 after he shared a dais with actor Rajinikanth during the success celebrations of the film Baashha, where the actor criticised the AIADMK government “for the deterioration of law and order in the State.”

A furious Jayalithaa had summoned RMV and demanded an explanation from him. “How could you remain silent when Rajini spoke like that?,” he recalled Jayalalithaa as asking him over the intercom even though he visited her in the Chief Minister’s office. The biography RMV Oru Thondar by Ranimynthan gives a lot of details about the subsequent developments.

RMV sought to convince Jayalalithaa saying it was the nature of Rajinikanth to speak like that. “I do not believe that it would make an impact. Moreover, I could not counter his allegation since the crowd dispersed after his speech,” he had explained.

But Jayalalithaa was not convinced and accused him of “enjoying” Rajinikanth’s diatribes against her.

RMV was able understand what would befall him. He, however, left for the U.S. as planned earlier. After his return, he continued his work as the Food Minister. But the subsequent visit of Rajinikanth to his residence further provoked Jayalalithaa and 15 days after the meeting he was divested of the portfolio and made Minister for Animal Husbandry.

He participated in the Anna birth anniversary meeting in Karaikudi though his name was not included in the list of speakers. A lot of fans of Rajinikanth participated in the meeting and he was forced to make a reference to Rajinikanth. In two days, he was expelled from the party.