: Veteran CPI (M) leader and freedom fighter I Mayandibharathi, passed away after a brief illness today.
He was 98.
An official release from CPI(M) district secretary R Vijayarajan said he was a powerful orator and a writer who was attracted to the free struggle movement while at school.
Mayandibharathi was in public life for 70 years, of which 13 years were spent in prison during the freedom struggle and also after Independence.
He was in the editorial board of "Janasakthi" newspaper in 1954 and was with CPI(M) organ "Theekadir" for more than 20 years as one of the members of the Editorial board, it said.
He was a close associate of Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram,a great poet and Pavalar Varadharajan and was a strong believer in the principle of Socialism and communism, the release said.
Hundreds of left party members paid homage to him.
