Kochi, Sept. 11 -- Senior Congress leader and former Kerala Assembly Speaker P. P. Thankachan passed away this evening at a private hospital in Aluva. He was 86.
He is survived by his wife Leela Thankachan, son Paul P. Thankachan, and daughters Dr. Bindu Paul and Mini Paul.
Born on July 29, 1939, in Angamali, Ernakulam district, Thankachan entered public life at a young age and went on to play a decisive role in Congress politics in Kerala for over four decades.
A lawyer by profession, he was elected Chairman of Perumbavoor Municipality in 1968 at the age of 26, becoming one of the youngest municipal chairman in the country at the time.
He represented the Perumbavoor constituency in the State Assembly for four consecutive terms from 198...