Thiruvananthapuram: CPI leader and former Kerala minister E Chandrasekharan Nair, 89, died Wednesday.
He was suffering from age-related illness and breathed his last at a hospital here.
Regarded as one of the best food and civil supplies ministers the state has seen, Chandrasekharan Nair had started the Maveli stores and Onam markets.
He was a member of the first Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1957 and after that he was elected five more times ('67, '77, '80, '87, '96).
A lawyer by profession, he was the president of state cooperative bank for six years. The veteran politician was an able administrator and was noted for low-living and high thinking.
'Great loss' to Kerala
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the death of Chandrasekharan Nair, and said his demise was a 'great loss' to Kerala.
In his message, he also said the late leader had played a vital role in uniting Left democratic forces and to spread secular values in Kerala society.
Known for his soft-spoken nature and simplicity, Chandrasekharan Nair was one of the two last surviving members of the first Kerala assembly of 1957, veteran communist leader K R Gouri being the other.
Nair, who earned the respect of all leaders irrespective of political affiliation, was an MLA for 19 years.
He was born into the family of prominent lawyers at Irumpanangadu in Kollam on December 2, 1928. A graduate in law and mathematics, Chandrasekharan Nair entered politics through students' union and joined the Communist Party in 1952. He held different positions in the party before becoming an MLA.
Chandrasekharan Nair was the managing editor of the CPI party organ 'Janayugam' for a long time and also contributed to the paper under the title 'idapedal' (intervention). After 2001, he retired from active politics.
He is survived by wife Manorama Nair, and children Geetha and Jayachandran.
The last rites would be held here on Friday.
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