By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala assembly was Monday adjourned after Speaker G. Karthikeyan announced the death of civil supplies minister T.M. Jacob.
Jacob, who led the Kerala Congress-Jacob and was its sole legislator, had been ailing since he became a minister this May. He died Sunday night at a private hospital in Kochi at the age of 61.
His body will be brought to his house near Piravom in Ernakulam district at 5 p.m. while the funeral will take place Tuesday morning.
Chief Minister Oomen Chandy, who turned 68 Monday, and his cabinet team are expected to be present at the Ernakulam Town Hall where Jacob’s body has been kept for the public to pay their respects.
On Sunday midnight, a visibly upset Chandy presided over a cabinet meeting at his office to finalise details of Jacob’s last journey.
His customary early morning visit to a church was also cancelled.
“On every birthday, Chandy and his family members used to be present in the church and there used to be a special mass. But it has been cancelled this time,” a close relative of Chandy’s told IANS.