RSP(B) leader Baby John dead at 88

Kollam, Jan 29 (UNI) Former Kerala Minister and Revolutionary Socialist Party leader Baby John died at a private hospital early today following a prolonged illness. He was 88.

John is survived by wife Annamma, daughter Shiela and sons Shibu and Shaji.

John, who had been ailing for the past ten years, was admitted to the hospital on January 23 following pneumonia. Subsequently, he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and died at around 0100 hrs.

Elected 11 times to the Kerala Assembly, he was minister in seven ministries led by Mr C Achuthamenon, Mr K Karunakaran, Mr P K Vasudevan Nair and Mr E K Nayanar. He handled important portfolios like Revenue, Labour, Education, Irrigation and Excise.

John, son of Sebastian John and Mary, was born in an ordinary family in Neendakara in Chavara constituency on September 14, 1920.

He began his political career during school days and actively participated in pro-Congress movements.

He was expelled from the Palayamkottai St Xavier's college during Quit India movement for conducting agitations on Gandhiji's call of 'Do-or-die.' MORE UNI CR ROY RL DB1016