S. Balakrishnan (Mudukulathur MLA)

S. Balakrishnan, also known as So. Balakrishnan (Tamil: சோ. பாலகிருஷ்ணன்) or So.Ba (Tamil: சோ.பா),^[1] was a veteran Indian politician, President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu for eighteen years and was the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (Eleventh Assembly 1996-2001).^[2] He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as an Indian National Congress candidate from Mudukulathur constituency in 1977 and 1991 elections^[3][4] and as a Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) candidate from the same constituency in 1996 election^[5] and from Kadaladi as a Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) candidate in 2001 election.^[6] In the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Balakrishnan represented Mudukalathur for thirteen years and Kadaladi for five years.

In an illustrious political career spanning over fifty years, where victories and defeats in central and state elections were frequent, Balakrishnan maintained a consistent strong support of voters which was time and again demonstrated when he contested for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and for the Lok Sabha Parliament elections in Ramanathapuram district. His defeats in the elections were not with out a tough fight. In the General Elections in 1971, Balakrishnan contested from Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency and came a Runner-up. 139,276 votes (38.87%) were polled on his favour.^[7] In the State Elections of 1980 for the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu, Balakrishnan contested from Mudukalathur and was polled 37,175 votes (44.77%) but lost the election by 5536 votes.^[8] In 1989 State Elections for the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu, Balakrishnan contested from Kadaladi, a coastal constituency, that neighboured Mudukalathur. The total number of votes polled for Balakrishnan was 32,273, which was 409 (0.38%) votes less than the declared winner. The total number of votes that were rejected or declared invalid in that constituency during the election was 1878 (1.71%).^[9]

Last days

Balakrishnan, on 4 September 2004, while returning from Rameswaram after a discussion on Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (Tamil: சேதுக்கால்வாய் திட்டம்) with the then Union Shipping Minister, met with a road accident at Paramakudi and suffered serious injuries in his spinal cord.^[10][11] The accident resulted in prolonged illness. Balakrishnan recovered briefly to fall ill again. He died on 24 June 2006.^[1]

The then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Mr. Karunanidhi in his condolence message recalled the effective speeches made by Mr. Balakrishnan in the Assembly and said that Balakrishnan was a role model for young legislators.^[12] Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko, Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S. Ramadoss, State secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) N. Varadarajan and Communist Party of India State secretary D. Pandiyan, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam leader Vijayakanth and BJP MP S. Thirunavukkakarasar were among those who conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family.^[12]

References