Senior DMK leader Sampath, a close confidant of party founder late C N Annadurai, died here after a brief illness.
78-year old Sampath, fondly addressed as 'Delhi' Sampath, was not keeping well for some time and the end came last night, DMK sources said today.
A close associate of Annadurai, Sampath used to be the party's pointsmen in the national capital whenever DMK was in power and was Special Representative at the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi during the 1996-2001 DMK rule in the state.
He was also in-charge of the government guest house in Udhagamandalam (Ooty) when late Kashmir leader Sheikh Abdullah was jailed there.
Sampath was a key member of the party's election manifesto team, the sources added.
Paying rich tributes to Sampath, DMK chief M Karunanidhi recalled his association with Annadurai and another veteran leader, the late 'Murasoli' Maran. Sampath was his "unannounced secretary," Karunanidhi recalled in a statement.
"I have lost a sibling who would always abide by the high command," Karunanidhi said noting,he had met him recently.
