Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, a veteran CPM leader from Kerala, died of cancer on Saturday in Chennai. Balakrishnan was undergoing treatment for cancer at the Apollo hospital in Chennai from August 28. He was 70 years old when he died. 

Balakrishnan was a member of the politburo – the top body of CPI(M). He was also serving as the party secretary in Kerala but had to step down from the post because of poor health.

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The CPI(M) leader was born in New Mahe in Kerala’s Kannur district on November 16, 1953.  He studied at the University College Thiruvananthapuram and Mahatma Gandhi Govt Arts College. 

Balakrishnan was a close aide of former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, the CPM leader. During the latter’s tenure, Balakrishnan served as the home minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011. He was appointed as the party secretary of CPI(M) in 2015.

While serving as the home minister, he was in charge of the tourism department as well. He is the editor of the Malayalam newspaper Deshabhimani.

He is survived by his wife S. R. Vinodini, daughter of former MLA M. V. Rajagopalan’s Master. They married in 1980 and have two sons, Bineesh Kodiyeri and Binoy Kodiyeri. 

After his death, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted, “The demise of my dear comrade and friend Kodiyeri Balakrishnan leaves me devastated.” 

“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.”

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Sitaram Yechury, former Rajya Sabha MP and politburo member of CPI(M) said, “Deeply mourn the passing away of Comrade Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, a longstanding comrade in arms, Polit bureau member, steadfast communist, ardent champion of the toiling people and relentlessly working for social transformation of Indian society that is free from exploitation.”