CPI stalwart CK Chandrappan no more

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CPI stalwart C.K. Chandrappan, a dominant figure of Indian mainstream Left for the last several decades and former Lok Sabha member, died in a private hospital here on Thursday, party sources said.

He had been undergoing treatment for cancer for the last few months and was admitted to hospital two days back after he suffered an infection.

CPI's Kerala state secretary, Chandrappan (77) is survived by wife Bulu Roychoudhury, who was with him when the end came.

Chandrappan was elected to Lok Sabha from Thalassery in 1971, Kannur in 1977 and from Thrissur in 2004. He was also elected to Kerala Assembly twice from hometown Cherthala.

Hailing from the Communist fortress Vayalar in Alappuzha district,he was born on November 10, 1936 as son of Ammukutty Amma and C.K. Kumara Panicker, the legendary leader of the Vayalar uprising that shook the princely state Travancore on the eve of Independence.

Entering politics at a very young age as activist of the Communist Party's student wing AISF, he held all-India positions in the Communist youth and student outfits. As a youth leader, he participated in the struggle for liberation of Goa from Portuguese hold.

Ideologically, Chandrappan was known as a follower of late leader S.A. Dange, who famously propounded the line of Congress-Communist strategic alliance. However, he remained with the parent party when some of Dange's followers left the party in late 1970s.

He became the party's Kerala state Secretary last year and was re-elected for a three year term to the post last month.

Suave, softspoken and studious, Chandrappan made a deep impression as a serious debater in Parliament and assembly as he was well versed in a wide range of international and national issues.