The Kerala Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (January 21, 2026) paid tributes to senior CPI(M) leader and Koyilandy MLA Kanathil Jameela who passed away late last year.
Speaker A.N. Shamseer, who read out the obituary reference, described Jameela as a leader who consistently took uncompromising, people-centric positions on public issues and was known for her firm interventions in the Assembly, especially on matters concerning women and marginalised sections. She was also an active presence in cultural forums and consistently upheld values of communal harmony and humanism.
As an MLA, she persistently raised issues related to coastal development and livelihood concerns of her constituency. Among her most notable contributions was the Sneha Sparsham project for kidney patients, launched during her tenure as Kozhikode district panchayat president, which received international attention for its compassionate approach and significant relief to poor patients, especially women. She also played a crucial role in strengthening the Kudumbashree movement in Kozhikode, the Speaker said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reminisced that Jameela always stood firmly with the oppressed and marginalised sections. She was widely recognised as a dedicated legislator, a strong organiser, an effective orator and a committed party campaigner.
Even during periods of illness, he recalled, the late MLA remained actively engaged in public affairs, and strived to intervene in issues and find solutions without ever displaying the burden of her health condition. With confidence and determination, she continued to participate in public programmes, leading many to believe that she would soon return with renewed energy to public service. Her untimely passing, however, has left everyone in deep grief.
Senior Congress legislator K. Babu, who spoke on behalf of Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, said Jameela was among the rare leaders who had the opportunity to serve at all three tiers of the Panchayati Raj system. She was a prominent woman legislator from the Malabar region and a notable representative of minority communities, he said.
He highlighted that she consistently demonstrated a strong democratic consciousness and a firm commitment to secular values during her tenure in the Assembly.
Published – January 21, 2026 02:43 pm IST
