C. N. Balakrishnan, former Minister in the Ommen Chandy government, died at a private hospital here on Monday. He was 85.
He was admitted to the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences two weeks ago following chronic kidney disease and cardiac ailment.
As Minister for Cooperation, Khadi and Village Industries and Pollution Control from 2011 to 2016, he had represented Wadakkanchery Assembly in the State election in 2011. Balakrishnan, who served the Indian National Congress for several decades, became MLA at the age of 75. He was given berth in the Oommen Chandy Ministry in his maiden innings as MLA.
He was the Thrissur DCC president for 15 years. The K. Karunakaran Sapthathi Mandiram, where the Thrissur DCC office functions, was built during his time as the DCC president as a mark of respect to his mentor K. Karunakaran.
Starting his political career as an activist of the Kerala Students’ Union, he had a long association with Khadi movement. He was State President of Kerala Khadi and Village Industries Federation.