Senior congress leader Thennala Balakrishna Pillai passes away

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior congress leader and former KPCC chief Thennala Balakrishna Pillai has passed away. He was 95. He passed away while undergoing treatment for old age ailments at a private hospital in the capital city. He leaves behind his wife Sathy Devi and daughter Neetha.

Thennala, a gentle presence in the state Congress, was a three-time Rajya Sabha member and two-time MLA. He had served as the KPCC chief twice. Thennala, who had a political career free from corruption, was always against groups in the Congress. He was a very cooperative person.

He was born on March 11, 1931, in Thenala house in Sooranad as the son of N Govinda Pillai and Eshwari Amma. He graduated with a BSc degree from M G College in Thiruvananthapuram. He entered politics as a member of the Sooranad Ward Committee. He was the block committee president and Kollam DCC Treasurer and served as the Kollam DCC President for five years from 1972.

It is Thenala's achievement that he never reached party positions through a tight race. He represented the Adoor constituency and entered the Assembly in 1977 and 1982. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1991, 1992 and 2003. He was defeated in the assembly elections in 1967, 1980 and 1987.