Kerala loses stalwart politician Baby John

KOLLAM (Kerala): Former Kerala minister and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) leader Baby John passed away here on Tuesday morning. He was 87.

The veteran leader, who died of his respiratory ailments at a private hospital here, is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

John began his political career as a member of the Congress and was a minister under five different chief ministers - C. Achutha Menon, K. Karunakaran, A.K. Antony, P.K. Vasudevan Nair and E.K. Nayanar.

He quit in 1998 after falling ill. John, who also served as general secretary of the RSP, has been bed ridden since then.

From 1960 to 2001, he had an uninterrupted stint as a legislator representing Karunagappally and Chavara constituencies in Kollam district.

In 2001, his son Shibu Baby John took over the mantle of the party, which has now split into four factions.