Kannur: : Left veteran and former Home Minster, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was laid to rest with full state honours at bloodred grounds of Payyambalam Beach amongst tall communist icons.
The mortal remains of the beloved leader arrived in a procession from District Committee office of Azhkodan Mandiram at roughly 3.30 pm. As the body emerged from the decorated hearse, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Polit Bureau members Prakash Karat, MA Baby and others served as pallbearers.
Slogans of ”Will Not Die, Will Not Die; Will Live Through Us Forever( ഇല്ലാ ഇല്ലാ മരിക്കുന്നില്ല; ജീവിക്കുന്നു ഞങ്ങളിലൂടെ)’ filled the air - a resonance that surrounded the mortal remains after news broke on the unexpected demise. Sons Binoi Kodiyeri and Bineesh Kodiyeri lit the pyre.
The Payyambalam burial ground is a reserve site and holds tombs of towering communist figures including Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai and AK Gopalan. Kodiyeri was rested flanked by tombs of EK Nayanar and Chadayan Govindan , who were also CPI(M) State Secretaries of yesteryears. A tomb for Kodiyeri at the site will be raised shortly.
