Senior Congress Leader and Former Kozhikode DCC President M. Veerankutty Dies at 86
Senior Congress leader, former Kozhikode District Congress Committee (DCC) president, and the inaugural chairperson of the Kerala State Minorities Commission, M. Veerankutty, passed away at the age of 86 on midnight of Tuesday, September 1, 2026. A seasoned political figure from northern Kerala, he played significant roles within the party organisation over a career spanning several decades.
What Happened
M. Veerankutty breathed his last at midnight on Tuesday. Originally hailing from Edavannappara in the Malappuram district, he began his public journey in socialist student politics as a state functionary of the Indian Students’ Organisation before joining the Indian National Congress. During historical divisions within the organisation, he allied himself with Indira Gandhi and steadily rose through the organisational ranks in Kozhikode.
Throughout his extensive tenure in politics, Veerankutty held prominent organisational positions, including the Kozhikode district presidency of the Youth Congress and the vice-presidency of the Kozhikode DCC. He subsequently took over the leadership of the Kozhikode DCC following P. Sankaran.
Key Highlights
- Decades in Public Life: Transitioned from a socialist activist and Indian Students’ Organisation leader into a prominent Congress functionary in Malabar.
- Organisational Leadership: Served as the Kozhikode Youth Congress district president, DCC vice-president, and later succeeded P. Sankaran as the Kozhikode DCC president.
- Factional Turmoil in 2001: Arrested in November 2001 from a lodge in Kozhikode by the city police under Commissioner Vijay Sakhare over a controversial speech, which triggered major friction between the ‘I’ faction led by K. Karunakaran and the ‘A’ faction led by then Chief Minister A.K. Antony.
- Party Loyalty in 2005: Chose to stay with the Congress party when K. Karunakaran and KPCC president K. Muraleedharan broke away to form the National Congress (Indira), later known as the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran).
- Electoral Contest: Stood as the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate in the 2006 Kerala Assembly election from the Nadapuram constituency.
- Statutory Role: Appointed as the first chairperson of the Kerala State Minorities Commission, during which he issued a notable notice to Muslim Educational Society president P.A. Fazal Gafoor regarding comments on the ‘niqab’.
Why This Matters
Veerankutty was a central actor in pivotal moments of Kerala’s political history, particularly during periods of intense intra-party friction within the United Democratic Front. His arrest in 2001 stood as a major flashpoint between the competing ‘I’ and ‘A’ groups within the state Congress leadership. Later, during the 2005 split engineered by senior leaders, his decision to remain loyal to the primary organisation helped shape the local party structure in Kozhikode district.
What to Watch Next
Specific details regarding funeral arrangements and memorial services were not immediately released in the initial announcements. He is survived by his wife, Konoth Fathima, and their four sons, Fayis, Fawaz, Fazil, and M.V. Faris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was M. Veerankutty?
M. Veerankutty was a senior Congress leader from Kerala, a former president of the Kozhikode District Congress Committee, and the first chairperson of the Kerala State Minorities Commission.
What were his major roles in the Congress party?
He served as the Kozhikode district president of the Youth Congress, DCC vice-president, and Kozhikode DCC president after succeeding P. Sankaran. He also contested the 2006 Assembly election from the Nadapuram constituency.
Which notable controversy involved Veerankutty during his time at the Minorities Commission?
During his tenure heading the Kerala State Minorities Commission, he issued a notice to Muslim Educational Society president P.A. Fazal Gafoor concerning remarks regarding the ‘niqab’.
Source: Reported based on disclosures published by The Hindu.