C K Chandrappan CPI state secretary passed away

C K Chandrappan the state secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) passed away on 22-3-12. He was under treatment for cancer since last few months and was admitted to a private hospital for the last 2 days and died of infection. His wife Bulu Roychoudhury, a Bengali lady was with him at his last moment. Chandrappan's death will be a great loss for the CPI. Chandrappan was elected as the Secretary of the CPI State Committee last year in place of Veliyam Bhargavan who is not keeping well. Chandrappan was re-elected as Secretary of the State unit for a term of 3 years this year.

C K Chandrappan was born on 10-11-1936 at the fortress of the Communist movement in Kerala and India, Vayalar in Alapuzha District of Kerala to Ammukutty Amma and C K Kumara Panicker who was a legendary leader of the Vayalar uprising just prior to the independence. With this background he was in the party from a very young age, starting from the student days as an active worker of the All India Students Federation (AISF) and held various posts in AISF and the Youth wing of CPI. Later in the parent organization the CPI he has held several positions both at National and State level. He was a Member of Parliament elected to the Lok Sabha from Thalassery in 1971, Kannur in 1977 and from Thrissur in 2004. He was also a member of State Assembly for 2 terms from his home town Cherthala. Both in Parliament and Assembly he has left his marks by his active participation in the debates. He had actively participated in the Goa Liberation struggle. In the CPI he was a staunch follower of S A Dange the All India General Secretary of the CPI for a very long time. In 1970 when the party split and CPI-M was formed he was with the Dange faction, the CPI.

May his soul rest in peace.