New Delhi, Sept. 11 -- Veteran Congress leader and former Kerala Assembly Speaker P P Thankachan died at a private hospital in Kochi's Aluva on Thursday. He was 86.

Thankachan, who had been under treatment for age-related ailments for the past month, also suffered from a chest infection and was on ventilator support. He breathed his last around 4.30 pm, hospital authorities said.

Born in Angamaly on July 29, 1939, Thankachan entered active politics through the Congress. He became the chairman of the Perumbavoor Municipal Council at the age of 26.

He was first elected to the Kerala Assembly from Perumbavoor in 1982. He went on to represent the constituency till 2001.

Thachakan served as the Opposition Chief Whip between 1987 and 1991 a...