Kerala politician MP Veerendra Kumar dies of cardiac arrest

File photo

Bengaluru: Kerala politician MP Veerendra Kumar died at a private hospital in Kozhikode in Kerala following cardiac arrest late on Thursday. He was 84.

Kumar was a Rajya Sabha member and Managing Director of leading Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi.

Veerandra Kumar was also a member of PTIs Board of Directors,

Several top leaders mourned the demise of the veteran Kerala politician and expressed their condolences for his bereaved family.  

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda mourned the demise of M P Veerendra Kumar, hailing him as a great journalist and writer.

"My deepest condolences on the demise of former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha member Shri M.P. Veerendra Kumar. He was a great journalist and writer. May God give strength to his family & his people to bear the loss," Gowda said in his condolence message.

Vice President M Venkaiyah Naidu also expressed his condolence over his death on Twitter.

राज्य सभा के सदस्य तथा पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री श्री एम पी वीरेंद्रकुमार जी के निधन का समाचार पा कर स्तब्ध हूं। वे एक बहुआयामी व्यक्तित्व वाले नेता थे। मेरी श्रद्धांजलि ! pic.twitter.com/5hFYlAH2qK

— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) May 29, 2020

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar wrote on Twitter, ''MP Veerendrakumar was an erudite politician, socialist, writer& journalist. As a union labour minister, he stood for the welfare of the workers. As @mathrubhumi CMD, he ensured it becomes the voice of the people. His demise is a big loss to political & journalistic fraternity. Om Shanti.''

MP Veerendrakumar was an erudite politician, socialist,writer& journalist. As a union labour minister, he stood for a welfare of the workers. As @mathrubhumi CMD,he ensured it becomes voice of the people.His demise is a big loss to political & journalistic fraternity. Om Shanti pic.twitter.com/LmNPWEDNmd

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) May 29, 2020

Mourning his demise, former Olympic Track & Field Athlete PT Usha tweeted, ''Heartfelt condolences to the family and well wishers of Shri. M. P Veerendra Kumar ji. He was a person beyond words. May his soul rest in peace.''

Heartfelt condolences to the family and well wishers of Shri. M. P Veerendra Kumar ji. He was a person beyond words.
May his soul rest in peace  pic.twitter.com/9OhrMM6fZs

— P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) May 29, 2020

Veerandra Kumar was rushed to a private hospital in Kozhikode in Kerala after he complained of breathing complications and chest pain where he died due to cardiac arrest.