Former Speaker T S John passes away

Alappuzha: Former Speaker and Kerala Congress (Secular) chairman T S John died at a private hospital in Cherthala here Thursday. He was 74.

John had been suffering from old-age diseases.

Born on October 21, 1939, John had been in the party leadership from the days of its formation. He was elected to the Assembly four times -- 1970, 1977, 1982 and 1996 – from Kallooppara constituency and served as the Assembly Speaker during 1976-1977.

He was the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies in the A K Antony’s Government in 1978. He held the same post later in P K Vasudevan Nair’s cabinet too.

John collaborated with PJ Joseph following the Kerala Congress split in 1978. He later joined P C George to form the Kerala Congress (Secular) in 2003.