CMP leader P Balan dies in Mangalore

KANNUR: P Balan, closely associated with the cooperative movement in north Kerala and Communist Marxist Party (CMP) leader died today at a hospital in Mangalore, party sources said.

Balan (64), was admitted to the Kasturba Medical College Hospital in Mangalore on September 24 following stroke. His health condition, however, worsened today and the end came around around 1400 hours, they said.

Balan, a politburo member of former state minister M V Raghavan led Communist Marxist Party had been President of the Kannur District Cooperative Bank during 1992-96 and 2002-06 when the bank had achieved record turnover in the state.

Popularly known as Balan Master, the CMP leader had led various teachers trade union wings for number of years. He also worked as reporter of CPI-M mouthpiece Deshabhimani at the daily's Payyanur bureau.

The body would be cremated on Oct 21, party sources said.