Mr Karunakaran was admitted to the Ananthapuri Hospital and Research Center on December 10 for respiratory problems and fever. His condition worsened following a stroke on Wednesday and was on ventilator since then. KPCC president Ramesh chennithala,who announced the veteran's death at 5.30 pm.
The congress has a seven day mourning.Mr Karnakaran was chief minister of Kerala for four terms and was the undisputed leader of the congress in Kerala for decades. He was quite active politically till the very end, making a few political appearance even after a series of hospitalization during the last one year. His wife Kalyanikutty Amma died 15 years ago.
Karunakaran Born on July5, 1918 at Chirackal in Kannur to Kannoth Ramunni Marrar and Kannoth Kalyani Marasiyar, he studied in Raha's High School and did his diploma in Design, Geometry and painting from college of Arts, Thrissur, which became his political Karma bhoomi, with Mala his political constituency. He joined the Freedom struggle at a very young age and was one of the founders of the Indian National Trade Union Congress in Kerala. He began his electoral innings as a member of the Cochin Legislative Assembly in 1948. He also represented the Travancore Cochin Legislative Assembly in 1949, 1952 and 1954. He was Home minister in the C.Achutha menon Ministery from 1971-77. He took over as chief minister in 1977, but had to resign a month later following an adverse court reference in the infamous Rajan case. He came back in to reckoning in 1982.
Mr Karunakaran was a stanuch supporter of the Nehru Gandhi family and drew his political strength from his close association with Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
Mr K .Karunakaran was an able administrator and quick and decisive decision maker. The list of development projects he initiated is unending Techno park, the state's flagship information technology promoter, Rajiv Gandhi Center for Bio technology in the state capital, the Nedumbassery air port, Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi, the Pariyaram medical college in Kannur are same of the development land marks he achieved.
He was elected seven times from Mala constituency 1967,1970,1977,1982,1987 and 1991. He was elected to the Lok sabha from Mukudapuram in 1999. His deep physical,emotional and spiritual connection with the Guruvayur Sree krishna temple marked the high point of his ties with Thrissur.
The government has declared a holiday for government offices, public sector undertakings, statutory undertakings, cooperatives and educational institutiona on Friday as a mark of respect to former chief minister.
Governor R.S Gavai said that the country and the state would always remember the contributions of the former chief minister K. Karunakaran, who was an illustrious freedom fighter and one of the senior-most leaders of the congress. Chief minister in his condolence message, said Mr Karunakaran played a major role in the political growth of the congress in Kerala. He also played an important role in the development of the states. He was one of the most democratic leaders in the state. He had a special ability to directly communicate with people. His political tactics and strategies were part of political history. Leader of the opposition Oommen Chandy said the secret of Karunakaran's success was his hard work and practical positions.
Defence Minister A.K Antony said various development projects initiated by Karunakaran would prove to be memorials that would preserve memories about his contributions to the state. His amazing political leadership and charismatic personality, coupled with hard work and organisational skills, helped rebuild the congress from scartch..
Union minister of state for Home Mullappally Ramachandran said" K .Karunakaran's death is an irreparable loss to the congress. CPI leader said Karunakaran's contributions would always be remembered. The Indian Union Muslim League has condoled the death of the former chief minister K.Karunakaran.Mr P.K Kunhalikutty said" He was a leader who succeeded in linking all democratic forces of Kerala with the same cord" Mr Thangal said Karunakaran was an unrivaled leader in upholding communal amity in the state. NSS general secretary said' Karunakaran was a personality which was irreplaceable both as a politician and administrator.His demise was a loss to politics and democracy in the country. All political and religious leader expressed grief at the demise of Karunakaran.
The Capital city of Thiruvananthapuram on Friday 24 the December paid rich tributes to the departed congress leader. People cutting across party lines and from various walks of life lined up in large numbers before the Indira Bhavan and the Darbar Hall in the state secretariat to pay homage to Karunakaran before his mortal remains were taken to Thrissur for his funeral.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister P.Chidambaam,Union Law Minister Veerapa moily and Union shipping Minister G.K Vasan among the prominent personalities who arrived at the party head quarters to pay their last respects to the departed leader. Prime Minister Manmohan singh paid tributes to the former Kerala chief minister K.Karunakaran at the Town Hall in Thrissur on Saturday 25th December,2010. Karunakaran's son K.Muraleedharan, lit the funeral pyre around 5 p.m. Karunakaran was cremated near the memorial to his wife Kalyanikutty Amma.
Prime Minister Manmohan singh arrived at the Town Hall at 2.15 pm to pay his last respects to the congress veteran. The Prime minister was accompanied by union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Overseas India Affairs Vayalar Revi, Union Minister of the state for Agriculture K.V Thomas, and ALL India Congress Committee (AICC) General secretary Mohsina Kidwai.
Prof.John Kurakar
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