Fondly known as Comrade RNK, he is survived by his two daughters Andal and Kasi Bharathi.
Born in 1925 in Srivaikundam, Thoothukudi district, as a schoolboy, he participated in the freedom movement. At the age 18, he joined the communist party.
Nallakannu was awarded a life sentence in the Nellai conspiracy case and was subjected to police brutality. The Nellai conspiracy case alleged that Communists conspired to overthrow Jawaharlal Nehru’s government.
He also fought against sand-mining mafia alleging that they were destroying the Thamirabarani river.
Nallakannu had contested the Lok Sabha elections in 1999 and was defeated by current Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan who was fielded in the Coimbatore constituency as a BJP candidate.
