Former Kerala minister Narayana Kurup passes away

KOTTAYAM: Founder-member of Kerala Congress and former state minister K Narayana Kurup passed away at a private hospital here today.

Kurup, 86, leaves behind wife, four sons and three daughters.

A former assembly speaker, Kurup was admitted to the hospital following complaints of high fever. He was also suffering from age-related problems. The end came around 2 pm this afternoon, family sources said.

Kurup's long legislative career began in 1954 when he was elected as a member of the Travancore-Cochin legislative assembly.

He was subsequently elected to the second Kerala Assembly as a congress candidate in a bye-election from Vazhoor in 1963. Again in 1970, 1977, 1996 and 2001 he was elected from Vazhoor constituency as Kerala congress candidate.

He was the Transport minister from January 1977 to October 1979 in the four ministries headed by C Achuta Menon, K Karunakaran, A K Antony and P K Vasudevan Nair and was the Deputy Speaker from July 19, 1991 to May 14, 1996.

Kurup has also been the member of Kerala University Senate for several years besides being the President of Changanassery circle Cooperative Union.