Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed profound sadness on Thursday as he condoled the passing of linguistic martyr and former DMK MP Venugopal. Describing Venugopal’s demise as a significant loss to the party and the people of Tiruvannamalai, Stalin paid tribute to the illustrious career and unwavering commitment of the departed leader to the Dravidian movement. Venugopal, who was nurtured in the workshop of the Dravidian movement with a deep-seated passion for Tamil race and linguistic fervor, left an indelible mark on Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. Having served as an MLA twice and a Parliamentarian on five occasions, he was revered for his dedication to the cause of Tamil language and culture. Stalin fondly remembered Venugopal’s remarkable achievement of securing victory by the maximum margin in the 2009 Lok Sabha election, a testament to his popularity and influence among the electorate. Reflecting on Venugopal’s steadfast advocacy for the Tamil cause, Stalin recalled the proud moment of presenting him with the Thanthai Periyar award during the Mupperum Vizha at Tiruvannamalai in 2019.