KOCHI: Thousands paid their last respects to former minister and senior Congress leader Dr. MA Kuttappan (76). After a public display at the Ernakulam DCC office and residence at Nivyanagar, Pottakkuzhi, the body was cremated with state honors at the Pachalam crematorium.

MA Kuttappan died around 11 pm on Tuesday. He had stopped his political activities in 2016 due to a stroke.
Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, MPs Hibi Eden, Benny Bahanan, Antony Antony, MLAs K Babu, TJ Vinod, Uma Thomas, former Minister S Sharma, DCC President Mohammad Shias, VM Sudheeran, PC Chacko, and others paid their last respects. Assistant Collector Harshal Meena presented Pushpa Chakra on behalf of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

A four-time member of the Legislative Assembly, MA Kuttappan was the Minister for social welfare and backward classes' welfare in the AK Antony government from 26 June 2001 to 29 August 2004. He entered the Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1980 from Wandoor. He won from Chelakkara in 1987 and from Njarakkal constituency in 1996 and 2001.

MA Kuttappan has served as AICC Member, KPCC General Secretary, Executive Committee Member, SC ST Cell Chairman and Bharatiya Depressed Class League Secretary. He was the party whip of the Congress legislative. He also served as a member of the Khadi Village Industries Commission, member of the Railway Recruitment Board, and member of the Kozhikode University Senate.
MA Kuttappan was an MBBS and MS graduate. He also worked as Pediatric Surgery Lecturer at Alappuzha Medical College during 1973-75 and Medical Officer at Kochi Port Trust Hospital during 1983-87. He entered politics after resigning from a government job. Born on April 12, 1947, as the son of late A Ayyappan and Kalyani.
Wife: Bibi John (Retd. Teacher). Children: Ajit Prashant, Ananthu Praveen.