The Hindu : Kerala News : P. Balan passes away

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

P. Balan passes away

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 8. The senior Congress leader and former MLA, P. Balan, 75, passed away at a private nursing home in Coimbatore this afternoon. He had been ailing for quite some time.

Mr. Balan is survived by his wife and two daughters. The cremation will take place at 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday at Palakkad with State honours. The body of Balan will be brought to the Palakkad District Committee office to enable the public to pay homage.

Born on September 25, 1930, Balan was highly respected for his value-based politics, which always stood above factional consideration, though he happened to be part of the Antony faction in Congress politics in Kerala. He was an institution in himself in Palakkad and had always been a role model for youngsters joining politics.

Known for his oratorial skills, Balan was always close to the people. He is one of the few Congress leaders who had the unique distinction of coming up the party hierarchy, holding several key posts right from the village to the AICC levels.

Even though his sympathies were always with the late Indira Gandhi, Balan found himself with the Antony faction when the party split in 1978.

He was first elected to the State Assembly in 1977 from Ottapalam.

He won the Sreekrishnapuram seat in 1987 and 1991, but was defeated in 1996. After this, he quit active politics.

Balan was instrumental in organising agricultural labourers under the Congress banner. His contributions in building up the Congress in Palakkad district would always be remembered, as the district was known for its Communist leanings.

The Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, in his condolence message, said that he had always shared a very close relationship with Balan, who was just like an elder brother. He was the personification of value-based politics and simple life-styles, he said.

The Opposition Leader, V. S. Achuthanandan, in his condolence message said that Balan was one of the handful Congress leaders who believed in value-based politics and steadfastly stood by it till his death.

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