Kodiyeri Balakrishnan dies: Tributes pour in from politicians, party members

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the former home minister of Kerala, died aged 70 in Chennai. The politician was suffering from cancer due to which he stepped down from the post of party secretary in August 2022. He was undergoing treatment at the Apollo hospital in Chennai but passed away on Saturday. 

A member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was part of the politburo, the party’s top decision-making body. He also served as the home minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011.

Also read: Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, former Kerala Home Minister, dies at 70

Earlier, PTI reported that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has postponed his Europe trip over the former home minister’s failing health. Since the news of his death arrived, Vijayan has written a heartfelt tribute to his former comrade. 

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who held Balakrishnan in high esteem, flew over to Kerala to pay his respects to the departed leader. He posted a photo standing in front of Balakrishnan’s body with his hands folded.  

Another CPI(M) senior leader, Sitaram Yechury, put out his condolences for his “longstanding comrade in arms” on Twitter.  

Also read: Kodiyeri Balakrishnan: Family, net worth and age

VP Sanu, the President of the Student Federation of India, the student wing of the CPI(M), said that the memories of Balakrishnan’s struggle for social transformation will shine forever.

 Along with party members and comrades, leaders from the opposition party Congress also joined in grieving the death of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. Dr. Shama Mohamed, a spokesperson of Congress, expressed her “deepest condolences” and hoped that his soul would rest in peace. 

Another Congress leader from Uttar Pradesh, Shamina Shafiq, also extended her condolences at the death of the senior politician. 

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is survived by his wife, S. R. Vinodini, and two sons, Bineesh Kodiyeri and Binoy Kodiyeri.