Freedom fighter and towering figure of the Communist movement, R. Nallakannu, passed away in Chennai on Wednesday (February 25, 2026). He was 101 years old. He was ailing for some time and was undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where he breathed his last.
Fondly known as RNK in party circles, he chose to remain with the CPI when the Communist movement in India split in 1964 following the Indo-China war. He served as Tamil Nadu State secretary of the CPI for three tenures since 1992.
A dedicated field worker and organisational man, Nallakannu led a tireless campaign against the sand mafia that was illegally mining sand from the Thamirabarani river basin. In 2010, he filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition and personally argued the case in the Madras High Court, securing a stay order against sand mining.
In Pictures: Remembering CPI leader R. Nallakannu (1924-2026)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin speaks to veteran CPI leader R. Nallakannu during an event organised to celebrate the latter’s 100th birthday in Chennai on December 29, 2024.
