Senior Congress leader K Sankaranarayanan died at the age of 89 on Sunday at his residence in Kerala’s Palakkad. 

Several political figures condoled his demise on social media. 

Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram remembered Sankaranarayanan as a “great administrator, genial public servant and a friend to all.”

“I am deeply saddened by the passing away of veteran leader K Sankaranarayanan in Kerala. He was a loyal party worker, brilliant convenor of the UDF, great administrator, genial public servant and a friend to all,” he wrote on Twitter.

Who was K Sankaranarayanan? 

Kateekal Sankaranarayanan served as the governor of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Nagaland during his decades-long political career. He also held additional charges of Goa, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. 

The four-time legislator held excise, finance and agriculture portfolios for several governments in Kerala.

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Early life 

Sankaranarayanan was born on October 15, 1932 in Palakkad, Kerala, to his parents, A Sankaran Nair and Smt K Lekshmi Amma.

He ventured into politics as a student and joined the Students Organisation in 1946. 

From 1957-1964 and from 1964-1968, Sankaranarayanan was sworn in as the General Secretary and President of the District Congress Committee, Palghat, respectively.

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He then went on to be appointed as the General Secretary of the Undivided Congress from 1968 to 1972. In 1972, he became the President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee and held the position till 1977.

Governing years

On February 3, 2007, Sankaranarayanan was sworn in as the Governor of Nagaland. He held the post till July 25, 2009. During the time, he also held the additional charge of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh as the governor.

On July 26, 2009, he was appointed as Governor of the State of Jharkhand. During his tenure, he oversaw the conduct of elections of the Legislative Assembly. 

On January 22, 2010, Sankaranarayanan was sworn in as the Governor of Maharashtra. Fast forward to 7th May 2012, he was granted his second term as Governor of the State.

Sankaranarayanan also held additional charge of Goa from September 8, 2011, to May 3, 2012. 

He died on April 24, 2022, after being under treatment for several ailments. He is survived by his daughter, Anupama.