Kottayam: Senior Kerala Congress leader and Changanassery MLA C F Thomas died at a private hospital in Thiruvalla on Sunday, party sources said. He was 81. He had been undergoing treatment for some ailments, they said.
Thomas represented Changanassery constituency in the Kerala Assembly since 1980 without a break. He was a minister in the Congress-led UDF government during 2001-2006.
He was a close confidante of the late Kerala Congress (M) leader K M Mani.
Thomas was associated with the P J Joseph faction in the Kerala Congress (M) due to the rift between two groups in the party following Mani’s death in April last year.
Commencing his political activities while he was a student, Thomas joined the Indian National Congress and then became vice-president of Changanassery Town (West) Mandalam.
He joined Kerala Congress on its formation and rose up the party ranks. He…