The state secretary of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) Kanam Rajendran passed away at the age of 73 in a private hospital in Kochi. Kanam Rajendran had a strong hold over the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala but was away from active politics for more than three months due to several health complications including heart, kidney-related issues and diabetes.
The news of Kanam Rajendran’s demise came at the time when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and fellow ministers were actively engaged in the Nava Kerala outreach program. Following the conclusion of their planned activities, the Chief Minister and his cabinet members proceeded to the hospital to extend their tributes to the leader.
Early life and career
Kanam Rajendran was born on 10 November 1950 in Koottikkal village of Kerala’s Kottayam district. His first step into politics came at the age of 18 during his education in Vazhoor. Owing to his sharp acumen, Rajendran rapidly rose to the rank of state secretary of the CPI’s youth wing All India Youth Front (AIYF) at the young age of 23. Two years later, at the age of 25 Rajendran became one of the youngest members of CPI’s state secretariat.
Throughout his political career, Rajendran played a pivotal role in the trade union domain following his appointment as the state secretary of the Kerala State Trade Union Council and the national vice president of the trade union organization AITUC.
Elected twice from Vazhoor constituency
Rajendran successfully contested the election from the Vazhoor constituency in Kerala and represented its people in 1982 and 1987. During his term, Rajendran was credited with introducing the crucial construction workers’ welfare bill.
Although the leader couldn’t get elected to the Kerala Assembly again, Rajendran continued his influence within the party and was treated as the most powerful man in CPI (M) after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. With the demise of the leader, condolences poured in from various quarters including Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI national secretary D Raja, CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan, KPCC Chief K Sudhakaran, BJP state president K Surendran.
Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world 🌏 Click here to know more.
Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
More
Less
Published: 08 Dec 2023, 11:02 PM IST
Ananya Das is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. Based on a keen understanding of digital culture, Sophie navigates the ever-evolving landscape of trending topics. With an insightful and engaging approach, she explores what’s buzzing across social media platforms, ensuring readers stay in the loop with the most talked-about and shareable content online.
