KANNUR: CMP founder and former minister M V Raghavan, 81, breathed his last at the Pariyaram Medical College here on Sunday morning. MVR, as he is popularly known, was almost bed-ridden for over two years owing to Parkinson’s disease and other age-related ailments.
He was admitted to the hospital on Friday evening after his health worsened. The end came about 9 am on Sunday owing to cardiac arrest.
The veteran leader was serving as the general secretary of the CMP (Communist Marxist Party) which he formed in 1986 after being expelled from the CPM in 1985. After the CMP joined the Congress-led UDF, Raghavan had served as the Minister for Cooperation and Ports for two terms in 1991 and 2001. He set up Pariyaram Medical College in 1994, the first such college in cooperative sector in the state.
An inspiring speaker and a skilful organiser, MVR was instrumental in strengthening the CPM, its feeder organisations and grooming many leaders of the party in the region. However, after the expulsion from the party, MVR had to face intense ire of his former colleagues on many occasions, but he remained part of active politics till he was affected by Parkinson’s disease a few years ago.
The CMP, which was ridden with factionalism after MVR’s clout weakened, split last year with a section of party workers moving to the LDF fold.
The body of the departed leader was kept at the PMC till 4pm on Sunday and later taken to the Parassinikadvu Ayurveda Medical College, which was also set up by MVR. The body which was taken to his home at Bernassery by evening will be kept at the CMP office in Kannur from 8 am on Monday and later at Kannur Town Square for the public to pay homage. The cremation will be held at Payyambalam crematorium at 11 am.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, ministers and other dignitaries will attend the cremation. A hartal will be observed in Kannur till Monday noon as a mark of respect to the departed leader. Vehicles have been spared from hartal. MVR is survived by wife Janaki, sons M V Gireeshkumar, M V Rajeshkumar, M V Nikesh Kumar and daughter Girija.