Former minister N M Joseph dies

KOTTAYAM: Former minister and Janata Dal (S) state president Prof N M Joseph (79) died here Tuesday. He died at Marian Medical Centre in Pala. His body will be brought to his residence in Kadapattoor in Pala and will be laid to rest tomorrow.

He was the head of the Department of Economics at St Thomas College in Pala. He had served as forest minister in Nayanar’s cabinet from 1987 to 1991. N M Joseph defeated P C George from Poonjar Constituency in the assembly polls. He replaced M P Veerendra Kumar in the cabinet. His autobiography has been published under the title Ariyapedatha Edukal. He had served as Kerala University Senate Member and Pala Marketing Society President. He leaves behind his wife Elizabeth Joseph and has a son and a daughter.