KOCHI: Veteran trade union leader E Balanandan, who passed away on Monday, was the former president of the CITU and former member of the CPM politburo.
Balanandan died around 8.45 am at a private hospital, where he was admitted with respiratory illness. He is survived by wife Sarojini Balanandan, daughters Suseela, Sulekha, Sarala, son Sunil, sons-in-law Sugathan, Jageer, Bose and daughter-in-law Sheeba. He was staying with wife and son at North Kalamassery.
Born to Raman and Eswary at Sakthikulangara in Kollam district on June 16, 1924, he had his school education at Sakthikulangara High School. He had to discontinue his education midway due to financial constrains at home. He married Sarojini on September 1, 1937.
Beginning his political career by organising employees at the Indian Aluminium Company, Aluva, Balanandan dedicated his life to the cause of the working class. The Punnapra-Vayalar uprising gave a new twist to his life. He suffered imprisonment for about four-and-a-half years.
He was part of many struggles and went underground several times.
Balanandan was the leader of ideological fights within the party. He openly criticised the party stand after the Palakkad state conference in which a number of CITU leaders were axed.
He became a persona non-grata for the present CPM leadership following his pro-VS stand on many controversial issues.
Though Balanandan was an opponent of V S Achuthanandan earlier, both of them arrived at a truce some years ago. During the ‘Naalam Lokam’ controversy and denial of Assembly seat to Achuthanandan, Balanandan openly argued for V S in the politburo.