By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : C.K. Chandrappan, the Kerala secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), passed away here Thursday, party sources said.
The 75-year-old, a soft-spoken politician, was suffering from cancer and his condition deteriorated two days ago. The end came in a private hospital.
He is survived by his wife Bulu Roychowdhury.
A three-time Lok Sabha member and one-time Kerala legislator, Chandrappan was considered one of the cleanest politicians from the state.
He hailed from Shertallai in Alappuzha district, the hometown of Defence Minister A.K. Antony.
In 2010, he replaced Veliyam Bharghavan as the state secretary of CPI. He was re-elected to the post last month.
In 1996 and 2001, he contested unsuccessfully against Antony. In 1991 he defeated Vayalar Ravi by 991 votes in assembly elections.
His body will be kept at the party office and taken to Alappuzha Friday for the final rites.