Kozhikode, Thursday, June 23, 2011: Several political leaders have expressed deep sorrow at the demise of Senior Congress leader and former Minister, A Sujanapal, who passed away at a private hospital here on Thursday. The senior political leaders including Union Minister AK Antony, Vayalar Ravi and Mullappally Ramachandran expressed deep condolence.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala also condoled his death. Sujanapal was suffering from cancer and was under treatment for long time. Sujanapal has served as Forest Minister during the previous Oommen Chandy cabinet.

Starting his political career while a student, through the Kerala Students Union, Shri. Sujanapal had held many District and State level positions in the KSU and Youth Congress and had served as President of KSU, Kozhikode District Committee and Kozhikode District Youth Congress Committee. He had also served as President of Kozhikode District Congress Committee and was General Secretary and Treasurer of KPCC at various times. He was also Syndicate Member, Calicut University and Secretary, Friends of Soviet Union.

Sujanapal became elected to the Ninth Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1991, contesting from Calicut as an INC candidate. He became elected to the Eleventh Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2001 also, contesting from the same constituency. He has also had a remarkable stint as Chairman of the Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions during 2001-05.

Sujanapal became the Minister for Forests and Enviornment in the inistry headed by Shri. Oommen Chandy from January 4, 2006. He has also been Member, KPCC and President of several cultural organisations like SK Pottekkat Memorial Cultural Centre, Calicut and Calicut Arts Society and has also attended several International Conferences and events such as World Parliament of Peoples for Peace held in Sofia (1980), Solidarity with Syria and PLO held in Damascus (1981).

(News agency)