Mathrubhumi MD and Former Union Minister Veerendrakumar died at 84

Communist pioneer, Rajya Sabha MP and author M P Veerendrakumar died following a cardiovascular failure at a private hospital here around 11 pm on Thursday.

Suffering from heart issues, the 84-year-old had pulled back from active politics for some time. He was the State leader of Loktantrik Janata Dal and had served as a Union Minister and State Minister.

Renowned for his political and artistic quality in Kerala, Veerendrakumar had enhanced many pined for positions in the course of his life. He was the previous leader of Press Trust of India (PTI) and Indian Newspaper Society (INS), and chairman and managing director of the ‘Mathrubhumi’ daily.

Born into a privileged prosperous Jain family Wayanad’s Kalpetta, Veerendrakumar entered politics through the Samyuktha Socialist Party in 1968.

Later, he proceeded to turn into a focal pioneer of different Janata Party outfits including Janata Dal, Janata Dal (Secular) and Socialist Janata Democratic before shaping LJD. He was first chosen for the state assembly from Kalpetta in 1987 and proceeded to fill in as a MLA till 1991, where he served as the Forest Minister.

He turned into the MP from Kozhikode in 1996 and in 1997. Veerendrakumar became Union minister of state for fund and later dealt with the arrangement of work and parliament undertakings. A productive author and speaker, he had won numerous honors including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi and Vayalar awards.  Veerendrakumar is survived by spouse Usha, child M V Shreyams Kumar, and girls M V Asha, M V Nisha and M V Jayalakshmi.

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