Kochi, Apr 27: Former Union minister A M Thomas passed away at his residence here this morning, family sources said. He was 92.

Thomas leaves behind four sons and five daughters.


Alumkal Mathai Thomas, had the proud privilege of being the first elected member from Kerala to hold a ministerial berth in then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet. He was the minister of State for Food and Agriculture in the Nehru cabinet in 1957.

Thomas had won the first general elections from the Ernakulam constituency in 1952.

A lawyer by profession, Thomas was also a member of the erstwhile Cochin Legislative Assembly in 1948.

On formation of the Travancore-Cochin state, he was elected speaker of that assembly at the age of 39. The funeral is expected to be held at Kandanad church cemetery at nearby Tripunithura tomorrow, the sources said.

Bureau Report