KOCHI: Former CPI Ernakulam district secretary and former MLA P Raju passed away on Thursday. He was 73. He has been undergoing treatment at Renai Medicity, Kochi, for age-related ailments.
Raju was elected as MLA from Paravoor constituency in 1991 and 1996.
He also served as AIYF Ernakulam district secretary, a member of the CPI state council, state vice-president of AITUC, and state general secretary of the Fishermen’s Federation. He also served as the unit manager of Janayugam Daily in Kochi.
His body will be taken to Paravur from the hospital mortuary at 8 am on Friday. The mortal remains will be kept at the Paravur municipal town hall from 9 am to 11 am for public homage. Later, the body will be taken to his residence at Kudiyakulangara, Kedamangalam. The funeral will be held at 4 pm on his house premises.
Raju is the son of freedom fighter and former MLA Sivan Pillai and Chellamma. He is survived by wife Lathika, and daughter Sindhu (Teacher at SVHSS, Karunagappally), and son-in-law Dr Jayakrishnan.
Family decides not to place body for public viewing at party office
KOCHI: The family of P Raju has decided not to place his body for public viewing at the party office. The family took a firm stand, stating that Raju did not get justice from the CPI. Instead, they have decided that his mortal remains will be kept for public viewing at Paravoor Town Hall on Friday. “He didn’t get justice from the party when he was alive. So why should they now decide to hold a public viewing at the party office? Why should they harm him even after his death? At the very least, they should allow the family to bid him a proper farewell,” said Govind Kumar, a relative of the deceased.