Pichai fought his way up the party ladder

TIRUCHY: Minister for Environment and Pollution Control N Mariyam Pichai has come a long way during his association with the AIADMK — from a party member to a Minister.Mariyam Pichai, a BA degree holder, became an AIADMK member in 1972. He held party posts ranging from that of a circle secretary to party presidium.He became a council member in 1996 in the first municipal elections after Tiruchy was upgraded to a municipal corporation. In the 2001 and 2006 elections also, he became a council member. During this period, he also held the post of zonal chairman. In 2003-05 period, Pichai was the party’s urban district secretary.In 2006, Pichai contested the Assembly election against DMK bigwig K N Nehru from Tiruchy West (the then Tiruchy II) and lost.In the 2011 Assembly polls, he faced Nehru again and won by 7,179 vote margin. Subsequently, he was made a minister on May 15 and assumed office on May 16. He is survived by wife Fatima Gani and sons Ashik Meeran, Raja Mohammed Ameer and Imran.