New Delhi: Former Kerala Chief Minister E K Nayanar died in New Delhi today (May 19, 2004) after protracted illness, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) sources said.

He was 86.

The end came at around 17.00 hrs (IST).

The CPM veteran was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on April 26 for treatment of diabetes and foot ulcer.

Later on May 6, both his kidneys failed and he suffered a massive heart attack. An angioplasty was done on him and a block in the heart valve was removed. He was on life-support system since then.

CPM polit bureau members Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechuri and S Ramachandran Pillai have rushed to the hospital.