Congress candidate from Kerala's Nilambur dies of heart attack

The 56-year-old leader was also Malappuram District Congress Committee president

DCC sources said Prakash was admitted to a private hospital in Edakkara in the early hours of Thursday after he complained of heart-related discomfort. Credit: Twitter/@RahulGandhi

A Congress candidate in the Kerala Assembly elections died on Thursday, only three days ahead of counting on May 2.

V V Prakash, 56, who contested from Nilambur constituency in Malappuram district in the April 6 election, died of a heart attack.

Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi conveyed his condolences. "The untimely demise of Malappuram DCC President & UDF Nilambur candidate V V Prakash Ji is extremely tragic. He will be remembered as an honest and hardworking member of the Congress, always ready to offer help to the people. My heartfelt condolences to his family," he tweeted.

Prakash contested against sitting MLA and Left Democratic Front (LDF) Independent candidate P V Anvar. Since Anvar faced several allegations, the Congress was quite hopeful of reclaiming the seat, earlier held by the party for a long time.

Prakash had also held various positions in the Kerala Students Union, the Youth Congress and the Kerala PCC.