THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The mortal remains of former minister and CPI leader E Chandrasekharan Nair, 89, was cremated with full state honours at Santhikavadam on Friday afternoon.
While he was being laid to eternal rest, his comrades who had turned up in large numbers braving the inclement weather shouted slogans in his honour.No religious rituals were held during the cremation as per the wishes of Nair and his family. By 3 pm, the body was taken from Nair’s residence at Pundit colony at Kowdiar and brought to Santhikavadam in a special ambulance.
Police accorded a guard of honour to Nair.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, CPI state assistant secretary Prakash Babu, ministers E Chandrasekharan, V S Sunilkumar, Ramachandran Kadannapally and Mathew T Thomas, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, former minister M Vijayakumar, Mullakkara Ratnakaran, Binoy Viswam, CPI leaders D Raja, CPI national secretariat member Pannian Ravindran and others also reached Santhikavadam to bid adieu to the beloved leader.
Earlier, hundreds of people from all walks of life congregated at Nair’s house to pay their last respects. The body was brought to the house from the state party office by 12.45 pm. CPI national executive member Binoy Viswam, CPI state assistant secretaries Sathyan Mokeri, district secretary G R Anil and others reached there. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, Mayor V K Prasanth, Deputy Mayor Rakhi Ravikumar, Poet V Madhusoodhanan Nair, MLAs K Muralidharan, Chittayam Gopakumar, Women’s panel chief M C Josephine and others also paid their respects.