Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the former Kerala Home Minister, died at age 70, his party announced in a social media post on Saturday evening. “He was undergoing treatment for cancer and passed away at Chennai Apollo Hospital around 8:30 pm”, the post said.
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was also the CPI(M) Kerala State Secretary and Polit Bureau Member. “We dip the red flag in homage”, the party wrote in a separate post.
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Balakrishnan stepped down from his role as the party’s state secretary in August this year. He gave up the role citing health reasons, news agency PTI reported. He held the office between 2015 to 2022.
Balakrishnan was also part of V S Achuthanandan’s administration in Kerala, which lasted between 2006 and 2011. He served as the Minister of Home and Tourism Affairs.
Tributes started coming in soon after the news of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s death was announced. “Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts. Adieu Dear Balakrishnetta”, Kerala Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday. He also shared a picture of Balakrishnan.
Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala, postponed his trip to Europe due to Balakrishnan’s health condition. Vijayan was scheduled to depart on Sunday.
Vijayan said in a social media post that he was “devasted” after hearing the news. “He was an astute leader who dedicated his entire life to build the communist movement and uplift the downtrodden. He will continue to inspire us in our struggles. Red Salute, Comrade”, he added.
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin visited the hospital in Chennai to pay his respects. “Com. Kodiyeri was an unyielding personality and was even jailed under MISA during the Emergency in 1975”, he wrote in a social media post.
