Congress leader and former Kerala minister Dr Kuttappan passes away at 76
KOCHI: Congress leader and former Kerala minister Dr M. A. Kuttappan passed away early on Wednesday. He was 76. Political leaders and party workers turned out in large numbers to pay their last respects.
Kuttappan, a four-time MLA in the Kerala assembly, was a member of the A K Antony ministry in 2001 as minister for the welfare of backward classes and SC/ST. After completing his MBBS, he began his career as a doctor at Alappuzha Medical College and Cochin Port Trust Hospital, before switching to full-time politics.
Born in Pathanamthitta, Kuttappan represented different constituencies throughout his political journey. He was elected to the state assembly from Wandoor in 1980, Chelakkara in 1987, and Njarakkal twice in 1996 and 2001. He played a crucial role during a period of internal conflict within the Congress party in the early 1990s between the ‘A’ and ‘I’ groups.
Oommen Chandy, the leader of the ‘A’ group, resigned from the K Karunakaran cabinet in June 1994 in protest against the denial of a Rajya Sabha seat to Kuttappan. Despite his contributions, Kuttappan did not receive a cabinet berth during the remaining part of the tenure after Oommen Chandy took over in 2001.
Throughout his career, Kuttappan held various positions within the Congress party, including KPCC general secretary and executive committee member. Following his passing, his body was kept at the Ernakulam DCC office for the public to pay their respects.
His cremation took place at Pachalam Crematorium on Wednesday evening. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his condolences upon hearing the news of Kuttappan’s passing, while Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan visited Kuttappan’s residence in Kaloor, Kochi, to pay his final respects. Other Congress leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala and Ernakulam DCC president Mohammed Shiyas, also mourned the death of Kuttappan.