Marxist leader P Ramachandran passes away

Chennai, Jul 8 (UNI) Veteran Marxist leader P Ramachandran, who had served as the Polit Bureau member for 13 years, died at a private hospital, here today, after a brief illness.

He was 83 and is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter.

CPI(M) State Secretary N Varadharajan, who is also the Central Committee member, expressed condolence on the death of Mr Ramachandran.

The CPI(M) announced a three-day mourning, during which the party flags would fly at half mast as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

Born in Kerala, Ramachandran enrolled himself into the Communist movement in 1941 at a tender age of 16. He received education in Chennai and was involved in various trade union activities.

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