Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Politics / Policy/  E. Ahamed, veteran Kerala politician and Union minister, dies at 78
BackBack

E. Ahamed, veteran Kerala politician and Union minister, dies at 78

Former Union minister E. Ahamed suffered a cardiac arrest during the President's address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Tuesday

A file photo of former Union minister and Indian Union Muslim League leader E. Ahamed. Photo: HTPremium
A file photo of former Union minister and Indian Union Muslim League leader E. Ahamed. Photo: HT

Bengaluru: E. Ahamed, Lok Sabha MP from Malappuram in Kerala and former Union minister, passed away on Wednesday early morning following a cardiac arrest. The 78-year-old had collapsed during President Pranab Mukherjee’s address to the joint session of Parliament on Tuesday and was rushed to RML Hospital in Delhi where he was put on artificial life support.

Ahamed was a champion of minority rights and state legislator for about 19 years and parliamentarian for more than last 25 years.

He was one of the senior-most national leaders from Kerala and a key figure in India’s diplomatic talks with Arab countries because of his good relationship with most of the rulers in the Arab world.

He was the national president of his party Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and former minister of state for external affairs in the Manmohan Singh’s cabinet between 2004 to 2009, with the exception of 2009 to 2011 when he was the minister of state for railways.

The news of his death comes after a lot of chaos at the hospital last night. The hospital started to keep extreme secrecy about his condition and at one point, even his family was not allowed to attend him. The situation was resolved only after top Congress politicians Ahmed Patel, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi reached the hospital.

“Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel rushed to the RML hospital because E Ahamed’s family, who collapsed today, is not being permitted to meet him or to know about his well being. This is complete high-handedness of the government," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, as per news agency Press Trust of India.

The death has also, reportedly, cast a doubt on the presentation of Union budget. Usually, as a convention rather than as a rule, the House adjourns after the next day of assembling after the death of a sitting MP.

“This is a convention that developed after members and successive governments deliberated on the matter. The main aspect to adjourning the House is to show respect to the sitting member and if that member has died in Delhi, to allow Parliament colleagues to pay their homage to the departed soul," former secretary of the Lok Sabha P.D.T. Achary was quoted in a report in the website of The Hindu newspaper.

E. Ahamed started his political career as an ordinary student activist of IUML student outfit Muslim Student Federation. He studied to become a lawyer but ended up as a sub-editor of his party mouthpiece Chandrika. Later, he was first elected to Kerala assembly in 1967 at the age of 29, where he was the youngest member, and then successfully contested assembly elections in 1967, 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1987. Between 1982 and 87, he was the industrial minister of Kerala. During this period, he emerged as a strongman for the party and a suave advocate of minority rights, following which he successfully contested Lok Sabha elections in 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2011.

His shining moment came in 2004, when he became the face-saver for the Congress-led United Democratic Front alliance in Kerala.

The communist camp swept the election, winning 19 out of the 20 seats, and he became the lone parliamentarian from the alliance.

His body will flown to Kerala late afternoon on Thursday and will be kept at Haj House near Calicut airport and party headquarters in Calicut district for the public to pay homage. The burial will be held in Kannur district, along with state honours, in the evening.

Senior leaders, including Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, condoled Ahamed’s death.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 01 Feb 2017, 08:37 AM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App