Many see the deceased CPI chieftain of the Kerala unit, Kanam Rajendran, as a leader who fought for construction workers’ rights. 

It may be noted that one of his private bills turned crucial in the implementation of the Construction Workers Act in the state. The private bill was put on the vote and he got the opportunity to present it. The bill batted for the security of workers involved in construction works. 

Rajendran’s trade union stint helped him to release the issues faced by the construction workers who were in unorganised sector. He was able to mobilize construction workers and raise their demands before the government.

73-year-old CPI State Secretary Kanam Rajendran passed away on Friday due to cardiac arrest at a private hospital. According to an official, Rajendran had been undergoing diabetes treatment for three months. He had taken a three-month leave from the party due to illness. Kanam has been the state secretary of the party since 2015.

The CPI veteran was born on November 10, 1950, in Kottayam’s Kanam. He entered into student politics in the 1970s. Kanam was in the state council (1971) by the age of 21. The veteran leader had been in AIYF state secretary and AITUC state secretary posts.

He was in the state secretariat (1975) along with MN Govindan Nair, TV Thomas, and C Achutha Menon.

Kanam had been a national council member of CPI. He has been in state executive and council bodies. 

He had been in the state secretary post since 2015. He won legislative assembly elections in the years 1982 and 1987 (Kottayam's Vazhoor).