Former minister V K Ebrahim Kunju passes away in Kochi

KOCHI: Former minister and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader V K Ebrahim Kunju passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi. He was 73. He had been battling lung cancer for a long period, and his condition had worsened over the past few days.

A four-time MLA, Ebrahim Kunju served as a minister twice during his political career. He entered politics through the MSF. He contested from Mattanchery in the 2001 and 2006 Assembly elections and represented Kalamassery in 2011 and 2016. He was the last MLA of the Mattanchery constituency and the first MLA of the Kalamassery constituency.

Ebrahim Kunju served as Minister for Industries and Social Welfare from 2005 to 2006 and later as Public Works Department (PWD) Minister from 2011 to 2016. He first entered the state cabinet after P K Kunhalikutty resigned as Industries Minister during the 2001–2006 UDF government.

A native of Kongorppilly in Alangad, Ernakulam district, Ebrahim Kunju held several key positions in the Muslim League, including district president. He was regarded as one of the party’s most prominent leaders from central Kerala.

He is survived by his wife, Nadeera, and sons Adv. Abdul Gafoor, Abbas, and Anoob. His eldest son Adv. Abdul Gafoor was the UDF candidate from the Kalamassery constituency in the 2021 Assembly elections.