Express News Service CHENNAI: V Anaimuthu, a close associate of 'Periyar' EV Ramasamy, founder-general secretary of Marxist Periyarist Communist Party (MPCP) and one of the significant crusaders for reservation for Backward Classes in India, died on Tuesday at a private hospital in Puducherry where he was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments. He was 96 years old. Anaimuthu was born on June 21, 1925, at Murukkangudi village near Perambalur. He was attracted towards the ideals of Periyar at the age of 19 and his association with Ramasamy continued till the Dravidian leader's demise in 1973. Walajah Vallavan, secretary of the MPCP, Chennai district, who worked with Anaimuthu for around four decades, shared thoughts on the late leader. "Anaimuthu was an expert in Marxism and Periyarism. He brought together both ideologies into what he termed 'Marxist Periyarism'. After that, all progressive outfits started speaking about this ideology," Vallavan said.