Kerala political figure VK Ebrahim Kunju dies at 73 in Kochi
Kerala political figure VK Ebrahim Kunju dies at 73 in Kochi
Former Kerala minister and IUML leader VK Ebrahim Kunju passes away at 73 in Kochi after years of illness; a four-term MLA and key party figure with a controversial flyover project behind him.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and former Kerala minister VK Ebrahim Kunju passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Tuesday. He was 73. He had been ailing for years and was undergoing treatment recently for multiple myeloma and chronic kidney disease.
Ebrahim Kunju was a four-time MLA between 2001 and 2021, representing Mattancherry from 2001 to 2011 and Kalamassery from 2011 to 2021. He holds the rare distinction of being the last MLA from Mattancherry and the first elected MLA from Kalamassery. Both constituencies are located in Ernakulam district where he wielded influence and clout. Kunju served as minister in the Kerala government, first from 2005 to 2006 as minister of industries and social welfare, and later from 2011 to 2016 as the Public Works Department minister. During his term, it was publicised that 227 bridges worth ₹1600 crore were commissioned.
However, he attracted controversy in the Palarivattom flyover case for allegedly releasing a mobilisation advance to the builder violating norms. He was charged as an accused by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), but the charge sheet has not yet been submitted and the trial is yet to begin.
Ebrahim Kunju, who served in various positions within the IUML and most recently as state vice-president, played a key role in expanding the party’s footprint outside its traditional stronghold of Malappuram. He led the party in Ernakulam and navigated challenges in the central districts, and was considered close to the Thangal family in Panakkad, the spiritual heart of the party.
His passing marks a significant moment for Kerala politics, and tributes are pouring in from across the spectrum.
