Kozhikode: Kanathil Jameela, CPI(M) leader and sitting MLA from Koyilandy, died on Saturday at a private hospital in Kozhikode, aged 59. She had been undergoing treatment for cancer.
In a message on X, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed grief over her death, calling her a spirited and cheerful mass leader who helped strengthen the women’s movement in the state. He said her contributions to local bodies had enriched Kerala’s model of decentralised governance and described her passing as a major loss to the party, the women’s movement and society.
Despite her illness, Jameela stayed in close touch with people in her constituency, returning to public life whenever her health permitted. Elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2021, she was widely regarded as a grassroots leader who made the journey from homemaker to a respected public representative.
Born in Kuttiady, a rural area in Kozhikode district, Jameela later moved to Thalakkulathur after her marriage. Her political career began unexpectedly in 1995, when she contested and won a seat in the Thalakkulathur grama panchayat. In the same year, she became panchayat president, marking the start of her active public life.
Her rise in politics was closely linked to Kerala’s People’s Planning Campaign, which deepened decentralisation and strengthened local self-government. The campaign brought women into the core of local development planning and implementation, creating a new generation of women leaders.
Jameela emerged as one of these leaders, known for her hands-on engagement with communities and participatory development work. Her progression from panchayat president to block-level leadership and, eventually, to the state assembly came to be seen as a testament to the possibilities opened up by decentralised democracy and women’s political agency in Kerala.
Even while fighting cancer, she remained active in public affairs, maintaining regular contact with party workers and constituents. She was remembered for her simplicity, accessibility and strong grassroots connect, and for championing community-oriented governance and women’s empowerment.
Kanathil Jameela is survived by her husband, K. Abdurahman, and two children. Her death closes an inspiring chapter in Kerala’s political history, which began in a village household and culminated on the floor of the legislative assembly.
(Inputs from IANS)