Kochi: Former state transport minister and currently Kuttanad MLA Thomas Chandy passed away at a private hospital here on Friday. He was 72, and had been under treatment for cancer at a private hospital in Kochi.
Thrice a member of the Assembly from Kuttanadu, he represented his party NCP in the Pinarayi Vijayan ministry.
A former Congress leader, Thomas Chandy started his political career with Kerala Students Union (KSU) becoming its president in Kuttanad and later becoming the president of Youth Congress.
Later, he joined the Democratic Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran). He was the sole MLA from DIC (K) in the 2006 election. When the party dissipated with a faction joing the the mother party, Indian National Congress, the remainder merged with NCP.
Thomas Chandy is is survived by wife Mercy and their son and two daughters.