THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: V P Ramakrishna Pillai, former minister and one of the senior members of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), died at a private hospital here on Tuesday. He was 84.
The mortal remains would be placed at the State committee office of RSP here from 9 am on Wednesday for the public to pay homage. Later his body will be taken to Kollam and funeral will be held at his house in Ashtamudi at 5 pm. He is survived by wife B Bhanumathy Amma, four sons and a daughter.
Ramkrishna pillai had served as Irrigation and Labour minister in the E K Nayanar Ministry during 1998- 2001 (from 7-1-98 to 13-5-2001).
Ramakrishna Pilai, had been undergoing treatment for kidney ailment for the last one month. He was keeping away from active politics for some time, due to ill health. Born as the son of Parameswaran Pillai on November 12, 1931, Ramakrishna Pillai had an active stint in students politics as he joined the K S P.
Later when the RSP was formed under the leadership of R Sreekantan Nair and T K Divakaran he joined the new party. He was elected twice to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1987 and 1996 from Eravipuram constituency, as RSP candidate. He had served the party as district secretary, state secretary and central secretariat member.
He has been at the helm of affairs of many trade unions affiliated to the U T U C. His refusal of Rajya sabha seat allotted to the party by the LDF had triggered controversy.