Apart from being a lawmaker, he also occupied key party posts including that of the vice-president of its Kerala unit and president of the Thiruvananthapuram unit of the party….reports Asian Lite News
Veteran Kerala Congress leader Thalekunnil Basheer passed away at his residence here on Friday morning. He was 79.
Often referred to as the ‘soft face’ of the party, Basheer was confined to his house on account of his failing health over the past few years.
He was also a two-time Lok Sabha member, served one term in the Upper House and won the state Legislative Assembly.
Basheer, the brother-in-law of the legendary evergreen Kerala actor Prem Nazir, had resigned from his Assembly seat to enable A.K.Antony contest after he was sworn in as the chief Minister in 1977, replacing K.Karunakaran.
Apart from being a lawmaker, he also occupied key party posts including that of the vice-president of its Kerala unit and president of the Thiruvananthapuram unit of the party.
His last rites would be performed here on Saturday and before that, the body would be placed at various offices for party workers to pay tributes to him.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the demise of Basheer and said he upheld the values of Congress politics.
“Basheer used to intervene in the issues affecting the public and upheld the general interest of the society,” Vijayan said in his condolences message.
Senior Congress leaders also condoled the demise of Basheer who was an executive member of KPCC for decades.
A graduate from Ivanios College and Law College, Basheer has also authored several books including ‘Velicham Kooduthal Velicham’, ‘Rajeev Gandhi: Surya Thejassinte Ormakku’, ‘Mandelayude Nattil, Gandhijiyudeyum’ and ‘K Damodaran Muthal Berlin Kunjananthan Nair Vare’.
Former Union minister Mukul Wasnik, who is also the general secretary of the Indian National Congress, also offered his condolences. Deeply saddened by the sad demise of senior Congress leader Thalekunnil Basheer ji. He will always be remembered for his active and well informed participation in parliamentary debates and in upholding value based politics. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.