Chennai: Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Pandian, who was known well for his oratorical skills, died at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital today after a prolonged illness.

He was 89. Pandian was suffering from chronic kidney disease and was on regular hemodialysis.

He was admitted in an unconscious state with sepsis and hypoglycemia. His condition turned very critical last night and was put life-saving medication and ventilatory support, hospital sources said.

He breathed his last at 10.15 am, the sources added. Pandian, who shared a close rapport with late AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, had served as the CPI Tamilnadu unit chief thrice and was twice elected to Lok Sabha in 1989 and 1991 elections.

Pandian, who has written eight books and translated six novels, had also served as the State Secretary of the CPI for three terms from 1983 to 2000 and from 2015.

He became the CPI National secretary at a very young age and was a staunch trade unionist who strived for the welfare of the labour class.

Known well for his writing skills, he started his career as a writer in the party organ Janasakthi and has been writing for it till he breathed his last.

Leaders of various political parties, including DMK Chief M K Stalin, CPI State secretary R Mutharasan, CPI(M) State secretary K Balakrishnan, Congress leader Peter Alphonse, TNCC president K S Alagiri, AIADMK Deputy Coordinator K P Munusamy, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko and others condoled the death of Pandian and described it as a big loss to the State.