T.U. Kuruvilla, 90, Kerala Congress leader and former Public Works Minister in the Left Democratic Front government led by the late V.S. Achuthanandan in 2006, died at a private hospital here on Friday while undergoing treatment for a respiratory ailment.The mortal remains will be kept at St. Gregorios Dental College, Chelad, Kothamangalam, for the public to pay homage on Saturday from 10 a.m., and later at his residence in Chelad from 4 p.m. onwards. The funeral service will be held at St. Stephen’s Ben-Ania Church, Chelad, Kothamangalam, at 2 p.m. on Sunday.Mr. Kuruvilla’s political and public life spanned more than half a century. He represented the Kothamangalam Assembly constituency for two terms, in 2006 and 2011, though he lost the election in 2016. An active member of the Kerala Congress since its formative years, he held several party positions. For a long period, he worked alongside P.J. Joseph, becoming MLA and Minister while part of that faction.He served as president of Keerampara panchayat for 14 years, from 1964 to 1978, and also headed the Keerampara Cooperative Bank. He was elected to the maiden council of the Kothamangalam municipality before becoming a standing committee chairman. He served as chairman of the Plantation Corporation, the Housing Board, the Ernakulam District Development Committee, and the Kothamangalam Block Development Committee, and was also a member of the Rubber Board.Mr. Kuruvilla remained active in community, educational, cultural, and labour sector initiatives. Published - May 30, 2026 09:37 am IST