Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA) condole the death of  CPI-M leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who passed away at a Chennai hospital on October 1.

“Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s strength was excellent leadership,” said a statement released by KPA.

“A leader with extraordinary courage and the ability to overcome adversity, Kodiyeri had distinguished himself in Kerala politics by his intervention which is respected by his opponents. He was careful to maintain relationships despite differences of opinion. Kodiyeri was one of the finest home ministers, the state has seen. He initiated revolutionary changes in the Kerala Police thereby succeeding in popularizing the police, brining them closer to the people. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was an excellent administrator and a powerful political leader. His demise is an irreparable loss to Kerala.”

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has been a five-term MLA from Thalassery since 1982 and has been the state Home and Tourism Minister in the V.S. Achuthanandan Cabinet. At the time of his death, he was a Politburo member of CPI-M, which is the highest decision-making body in the party.