Kannur to bid farewell to dear leader; thousands accompany procession carrying body of Kodiyeri, to be laid to rest shortly

KANNUR: The funeral procession carrying the body of CPM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to Payyambalam has left from Kannur district committee office. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, M A Baby, M Vijayaraghavan and others are accompanying the procession. Thousands are waiting on the roadside to have a last glimpse of their leader.

Thousands paid homage to Kodiyeri this morning. The body was taken to the district committee office as a procession around 11 am. Tens of thousands thronged to have a last sight of their leader.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Prakash Karat, opposition leader V D Satheesan, BJP leader C K Padmanabhan, RSS leader Vatsan Thillankeri and leaders of various parties visited the district committee office and paid floral tributes. Governor Arif Muhammad Khan also paid homage to the leader at the district committee office.

The funeral will be held with full state honours. He will be laid to rest in the midst of the tombs of E K Nayanar and Chadayan Govindan. Central leaders of CPM will also participate in the function. A condolence meet will be convened after the funeral.