KOZHIKODE: Former minister and senior Congress leader A Sujanapal passed away at a hospital here on Thursday. Sujanapal had been undergoing treatment for cancer at a private hospital for the past many months.
The 62yearold leader was very active in public life till recently. Born on February 1, 1949 in Kozhikode as the son of A Balagopal and Anandalakshmi Sujanapal, Sujanapal was a politician with a difference. He started his political career through Kerala Students Union, the student's wing of the Congress. Minister of Environment and Forests in the Oommen Chandy Ministry in 2006, Sujanapal had also served as the state and district level officebearer of KSU and Youth Congress. Joining active politics during his college days at Zamorin's Guruvayoorappan College Kozhikode, Sujanapal's political career took a turn during his study at Government Law College, Kozhikode.
Sujanapal had served as the president of KSU, Kozhikode District Committee and Kozhikode District Youth Congress Committee. Former president of Kozhikode District Congress Committee, he was also the general secretary and treasurer of KPCC at different times. An advocate by profession Sujanapal was also a Syndicate Member of the Calicut University and secretary of Friends of Soviet Union. Sujanapal, with his pleasing smile, represented Kozhikode 1 Assembly constituency in two tenures 1991-1996 and 2001-2006.
This law graduate had played key roles as the chairman of the Committee on Private Members Bills and Resolutions during 2001-05. He was also the chairman of Kerala Legislative Assembly Library Committee.
He is survived by wife Jayasree, son Manu and daughter Amrita.