Former Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's younger brother O Balamurugan has passed away on Friday at the age of 56 in Periyakulam in Theni. He was suffering from cancer and was hospitalized in Trivandrum, Kerala. 

Balamurugan, a farmer by profession, was the second of the three younger brothers of Panneerselvam. He stayed off from active politics and carrying out his agribusiness at Periyakulam. As he was battling cancer, he was under treatment in Trivandrum a couple of months ago. Last month, he had tested positive for the COVID-19 viral infection and was getting treated at his home. 

He later recovered from the pandemic and tested negative. However, he breathed his last in the morning hours of Friday at the age of 56. Balamurugan was surviving by his wife and a daughter who is studying in Class X. According to reports, after learning about his brother's demise, Panneerselvam, who was in Chennai, had taken a flight to Madurai and will reach Periyakulam by road to take part in the last rites.

Balamurugan hit headlines in 2018 when Panneerselvam had acquired special approval from the ministry of defense and also paid Rs 14.91 lakh to the Indian Air Force for airlifting him from Madurai to Chennai on July 13, 2018, for an emergency medical treatment. After knowing the demise of Balamurugan, several leaders have been expressing tribute to Panneerselvam, who is the Chief Coordinator of the ADMK. 

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami took to Twitter and wrote, "I'm deeply saddened after learning the news of the demise of party's coordinator Panneerselvam's younger brother Balamurugan due to his health conditions. I express my deepest condolences to Panneerselvam and his family and I pray to Almighty God that Balamurugan's soul rests in peace." 

Former Tamil Nadu Minister and Senior ADMK leader SP Velumani had also consoled Panneerselvam over the demise of his younger brother. Taking to Twitter, Velumani wrote, "I'm pained to learn that party's coordinator O Panneerselvam's brother Balamurugan has passed away. My deepest condolences to the family members anguishing his loss."

திரு.ஓ.பாலமுருகன் அவர்களை இழந்துவாடும் அண்ணன் திரு.ஓ.பன்னீர்செல்வம் அவர்களுக்கும் அவரது குடும்பத்தினருக்கும்
எனது ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல்களை தெரிவித்துக் கொள்வதுடன் அன்னாரது ஆன்மா இறைவன் திருவடி நிழலில் இளைப்பாற எல்லாம்வல்ல இறைவனை பிரார்த்திக்கிறேன்.(2/2)

— Edappadi K Palaniswami (@EPSTamilNadu) May 14, 2021

கழக ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர் அண்ணன் திரு. @OfficeOfOPS அவர்களின் சகோதரர் திரு. ஓ. பாலமுருகன் அவர்கள் உடல்நலக்குறைவால் காலமான செய்தியறிந்து மிகவும் வேதனையடைந்தேன்.

அவரை இழந்து வாடும் குடும்பத்தாருக்கு என் ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கலை தெரிவிக்கின்றேன். pic.twitter.com/mG1kkQ5HMx

— SP Velumani (@SPVelumanicbe) May 14, 2021