Veteran Congress leader and Karunakaran-loyalist P P Thankachan passes away

A staunch loyalist of former chief minister K Karunakaran, Thankachan served as Kerala's Agriculture Minister from May 1995 to 1996.

Senior Congress leader and former Kerala Assembly Speaker P P Thankachan (86) died at a private hospital at Aluva in Kerala on Thursday. He was 86.

A staunch loyalist of former chief minister K Karunakaran, Thankachan served as the Opposition Chief Whip between 1987 and 1991 and later as the state’s Agriculture Minister from May 1995 to 1996.

Congress' Kerala united condoled his death.

He was a key member of the ‘I’ group, which dominated Congress’ internal politics in Kerala for close to two decades.

Thankachan, who had been under treatment for age-related ailments for the past month, also suffered from a chest infection and was on ventilator support.

He breathed his last around 4.30 pm, hospital authorities said.

Born in Angamaly on July 29, 1939, Thankachan entered active politics through the Congress.

He became the chairman of the Perumbavoor Municipal Council at the age of 26. He was first elected to the Kerala Assembly from Perumbavoor in 1982. He went on to represent the constituency till 2001.

He served as Speaker of the ninth Assembly (1991–95) at a time when Karunakaran was the all-in-all in Kerala politics.

In 2004, he became the president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee as Karunakaran’s nominee.

Thankachan also held several other positions, including UDF Convenor, member of the Rubber Board, and chairman of Kerala Marketfed. His wife is TV Thankamma. He has two daughters and a son. His body will be brought to his residence at Perumbavoor on Friday and funeral will be held on Saturday.

(with agency inputs)