Published May 31, 2026 | 4:27 PM ⚊ Updated May 31, 2026 | 4:57 PM
KP Dhanapalan
Synopsis: Veteran Congress leader and former Chalakudy MP KP Dhanapalan died at the age of 76 on Saturday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital. A prominent Congress figure in central Kerala, he served as Ernakulam DCC president and KPCC vice-president. Political leaders, party workers and members of the public paid their final respects before his funeral in North Paravur.
Veteran Congress leader and former Chalakudy MP KP Dhanapalan passed away at the age of 76 on the morning of Saturday, 30 May. He had been rushed to a private hospital in the early hours and died while undergoing treatment.
Political leaders, party workers and members of the public paid their final respects before his funeral in North Paravur. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
A prominent Congress figure in central Kerala, Dhanapalan held several key positions in the party, including president of the Ernakulam District Congress Committee and vice-president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Chalakudy constituency in 2009.
Known for his strong organisational work, Dhanapalan was a close associate of former Kerala Chief Minister AK Antony. During his long public career, he served in a range of public and civic positions, including Paravur Municipal Councillor, chairman of Milma, and board member of North Malabar Gramin Bank.
In the 2001 Assembly election, he was announced as the Congress candidate for Vadakkekkara. However, he later withdrew from the contest after the election campaign had already begun.
After representing Chalakudy in the Lok Sabha from 2009, Dhanapalan contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Thrissur and lost.
Chief Minister VD Satheesan remembered him as a loyal party leader and described his death as a personal loss.
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