Palakkad (Kerala) | Senior CPI(M) leader and former MLA, M Chandran, died on Monday, party sources said. He was 76.

Chandran, a former state secretariat member of the CPI(M), was also the Palakkad District Secretary of the party from 1987 to 1998.

Chandran represented Alathur constituency in the State Legislative Assembly for two consecutive terms from 2006 to 2016.

He is survived by his wife and two sons.

The CPI(M) leader was admitted to a private hospital in Kochi due to age-related ailments.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the demise of Chandran and said he was a popular leader who played a major role in strengthening the party in Palakkad District.

"Chandran mobilised workers from various sectors and was also a eminent legislator," Vijayan said in his condolence message.

Vijayan said the demise of the Left leader was a great loss to the labour unions and to the society as a whole.