Kollam: Former legislator and CPI leader R Ramachandran passed away on Tuesday. He died while undergoing treatment for liver-related ailments at a private hospital in Kochi.

He was elected as MLA from Karunagappally in the 2016 Assembly elections. He also contested in the recent assembly election from the same constituency. 

He became involved in active politics through the student wing. He also served as CPI Karunagappally Taluk Committee Secretary and later Chavara Mandalam Secretary. He became the CPI district secretary in Kollam in 2012 and became a member of the CPI state executive committee member. 

He also served as LDF convener. Between 2006-11 he was the chairman of Kerala Small Industries Development Corporation Limited (Kerala SIDCO). 

He is survived by wife Priyadarshini, a retired accountant at Thiruvthamkoor Devaswom Board; Children: Deepa Chandran, In-law: Anil Kumar. The funeral will be held at his residence on Wednesday.