Veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader and trade unionist K.M. Sudhakaran passed away at Kochi in Kerala on Sunday (December 28, 2025). He was 90. He was a member of the party’s State committee for 35 years. He had served as the State treasurer of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
He breathed his last at a private hospital in North Paravur, where he was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments, at 5.30 in the morning. Having entered full-time politics in 1956 after quitting his job as a toddy tapper following party leadership’s instruction, Mr. Sudhakaran went on to organise the farmers of Vypeen. He had played an active role in several movements including the transport strike of 1954, the protests for land reforms in 1970 and toddy tappers’ struggle in 1993.
He was jailed for 16 months during the Emergency. He is survived by wife, J. Prabhavathi, who retired from the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, and children,K.S. Jayashree, Jayan, Jayaraj and Jaisy.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan condoled his passing. The State has lost a senior revolutionary leader, said the Chief Minister.
Mr. Sudhakaran’s final rites will be held on the premises of his house at Kalavanpara, Nayarambalam, in Ernakulam at 5.30 pm.
Published – December 28, 2025 05:03 pm IST
