Chennai, The long-time personal secretary of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, K. Shanmuganathan passed away in Chennai on Tuesday due to age-related ailments.

Shanmuganathan was in the police department when he was spotted by the late DMK supremo for his stenography skills and was appointed as his personal secretary in the late 1960s. He served in the post till the time Karunanidhi passed away in 2018.

He was considered as the shadow of the late Chief Minister, noting down his public speeches as well as his interactions with the media and the public.

The death of Shanmuganathan was condoled by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, DMK leader and party treasurer T.R. Baalu, among a host of other leaders.