Kerala Congress worker dies while campaigning for candidate in bye-elections

A 58-year-old local Congress worker collapsed and died on Sunday while campaigning for the party candidate ahead of the Vattiyoorkavu bye-elections, to be held on October 21.

Kavallur Madhu was vice-president of the Thiruvananathapuram District Congress Committee and was a former member of the All-India Congress Committee. He died due to a cardiac arrest, according to a statement from the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. 

A native of Kavallur in Vattiyoorkavu, Madhu had been conducting a door-to-door campaign seeking votes for the Congress candidate K Mohankumar on Sunday morning. He collapsed around 11 am and was rushed to a private hospital. Madhu, whose political career began with the Kerala Students Union, had been an active part of the campaign. 

His body will remain at the DCC office until Monday morning and the funeral will be held at 10 am at the Santhikavadom crematorium. 

Senior Congress leaders condoled the death of the Congress worker.

"Madhu worked for the party till his last breath and his life should be seen as a model. His work for the social justice of marginalised communities is notable," KPCC President Mullappally Ramachandran said, adding that his death will be a great loss to the party.

"He was a party colleague and a friend since our days working in the KSU. All those who knew him have only fond memories of him," Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said. 

The bye-elections were necessitated after K Muraleedharan of the Congress was elected to the Lok Sabha. In a tough triangular contest, VK Prasanth of the CPI(M) and Advocate S Suresh of the BJP will oppose Mohankumar.

Read: ‘Njan Marykutty’ to ‘Classmates’: Actor Jayasurya proves his versatility and range