KAnbazhagan, General Secretary of the DMK, died on Saturday at about 1-am after a prolonged illness, said party president MK Stalin. He was 97. In a statement issued, MK Stalin said that Anbazhagan was a close friend of late party President M Karunanidhi and served as the party's General Secretary for 43 years. Anbazhagan was appointed to the party General Secretary post in 1977.