Thiruvananthapuram: Senior CPM leader and former Kerala Minister V J Thankappan passed away on Saturday near here, according to his family. He was 84.

Thankappan died following age-related issues at his home in the city suburbs, a family member said.

The four-time CPM MLA also served as the Minister for Local Administration in the E K Nayanar cabinet of 1987-91. He is survived by his wife and four children.

The Left leader had started off as a clerk in the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation but soon quit to plunge into full-time politics.

He first won from the Nemom Assembly constituency in 1983 when he was elected in a byelection. Subsequently he completed a hat trick from the same seat.

In 2006, he won from the suburban Neyattinkara parliamentary constituency, here.

Thankappan was a hugely popular leader and one who rose in the party through the ranks.

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Onmanorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.