Cardiac arrest causing woes to the ruling AIADMK MLAs since 2016

R Kangaraj, S M Seenival, A K Bose, J Jayalalithaa. What do these politicians have in common? These 4 ADIAMK MLAs died of cardiac arrest, making this a cause of death for 4 MLAs since the 2016 assembly was elected.

Over 17% of the current Assembly’s vacancy in Tamil Nadu is due to deaths related to heart attacks. All these four AIADMK MLAs were sexagenarians (people in their 60s). And interestingly, the Thiruparankundram constituency is set for the second by-election in three years as both the MLAs died of cardiac arrest. Seenival who was elected in May 2016 died within days of winning the seat. In a strange coincidence, A K Bose who succeeded Seenival in the by-elections held in November 2016, died of a heart-attack in 2018.

Are MLAs being overworked with campaigns, shuttling between the Assembly and their constituencies, which lead to heart-related ailments? Or is it time that Tamil Nadu elects fitter members to its Assembly who can handle the pressure?