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E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, a former Union Minister and senior leader of the Congress party, died at the age of 78 in Sivaganga on Thursday after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, and two elder brothers. Manickam Tagore, a nephew of Natchiappan and the president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, confirmed that his uncle had died peacefully in his sleep.

Natchiappan had been a Congressman since 1969 and rose through the ranks, becoming the vice-president of the TNCC in 2002 and the party whip in Parliament. Born in Eriyur, Sivaganga district, he first became active in the Students' Congress while studying law. Later, he served as the general secretary of the Youth Congress and chairman of the Sivaganga Panchayat Union in 1986.

Natchiappan remained a staunch supporter of Congress, even when the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) split from the party in 1996. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1999 from Sivaganga and later served as a Rajya Sabha member from 2004 to 2016. He also held the position of Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry briefly between 2013 and 2014.

Natchiappan made significant contributions to the party as the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law, and Justice from 2004 to 2009. He was an expert in issues surrounding Sri Lankan Tamils, fishermen's rights, and the Katchatheevu islet, having addressed the United Nations General Assembly twice.

Natchiappan had been receiving medical treatment for declining health in Sivaganga before passing away at his residence after unsuccessful treatment.