Veteran Congress leader P P Thankachan passes away at 87

Veteran Congress leader and former KPCC president P P Thankachan passed away at a private hospital in Aluva on Thursday. He was 87.

Thankachan was under treatment for respiratory ailments in the intensive care unit of the Rajagiri Hospital in Aluva. According to the hospital bulletin, Thankachan breathed his last at 4.30 pm on Thursday.

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A seasoned politician known for his organisational acumen, Thankachan carved out a long innings in public life spanning over six decades.

Born on July 29, 1939, at Angamali in Ernakulam district as the son of Rev Father Paulose, Thankachan entered politics through the Congress and soon rose to prominence within the faction led by K Karunakaran.

A trusted loyalist of late Karunakaran, he became an influential player in the ‘I’ group, which shaped much of the Congress’s internal politics in Kerala during the 1980s and 1990s.

In his six decades of political career, Thankachan has held important positions such as KP CC President, UDF Convener, Kerala Assembly Speaker, Agriculture Minister in the Antony cabinet, four-time MLA from Perumbavoor, Ernakulam DCC President, and Perumbavoor Municipal Chairman.

Thankachan first entered the Kerala Assembly from Perumbavoor in 1982 and held the seat consecutively in 1987, 1991, and 1996. He was elected as the fourteenth Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly on July 1, 1991 and occupied the Chair till May 3, 1995. He became agriculture Minister in the Cabinet headed by A K Antony, on May 3, 1995 and continued till May 9, 1996.

In 2004, he became president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). Thankachan was the convenor of the United Democratic Front (UDF) for 13 years, where he played a crucial role in coordinating the activities of constituent parties within the alliance.He also served as a member of the Rubber Board and chairman of Kerala Marketfed.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan , in his condolence message said that Thankachan was a leader who rose from the grassroots level to prominent positions in state politics.

“Thankachan left a distinct mark in every role he held and was able to bring people together during his tenure as Minister and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly,” the chief minister noted.

He is survived by daughters Rekha, Renu, son Varghese, sons-in-law Samuel Koshi, Thomas Kurien and daughter-in-law Demina.

His funeral will be held on Saturday at Jacobite Church, Akaparambu near Nedumbassery.