THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: PDP leader Poonthura Siraj has passed away. He was under treatment for cancer and died at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was the state vice-president of PDP and husband of the sister-in-law of PDP chairman Abdul Nasser Madani.

Siraj was a three-time Thiruvananthapuram Corporation councilor. Siraj has twice contested under the PDP and once as an independent candidate. He contested from Manikyamvilakam ward in 1995 and Ambalathara ward in 2000 and was elected as a PDP candidate. Poonthura Siraj contested in Puthenpalli ward as an independent when he was expelled from the PDP in 2005.

Siraj, who left the PDP just before the recent local body elections due to differences of opinion, had joined the INL. However, he was recently appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the PDP on the recommendation of the Central Committee following a letter to Madani seeking his reinstatement in the party.