Thiruvananthapuram: One of the most popular Communist leaders and the longest serving Chief Minister of Kerala, Erambala Krishnan Nayanar, who died in Delhi yesterday (May 19, 2004), had been a central player in Kerala's bipolar politics for the last five decades.

A vanguard struggler for the cause of working class, the 85-year-old Marxist veteran had left an indelible mark in the history of modern Kerala as an administrator, Opposition leader, and above all a crowd-puller for the Left in the day-to-day party politics.

With an uncanny knack to speak to the people in their own rustic language spiced with earthy humour and sarcasm, Nayanar endeared himself to even his political opponents.

Last of the surviving links from the freedom struggle era, Nayanar's long public life was known for its probity and total dedication to the movement to which he was an integral part.

Nayanar had set a record of sorts in the quick sands of Kerala politics becoming Chief Minister for three terms, 1980-82, 1987-91 and lastly from 1996 to 2001.

Interestingly, the internal equations in the party had come to his aid to assume the top post in the State during his last term. Though the party had kept out Nayanar from contest, he ultimately emerged as the Chief Ministerial candidate in an inner-party voting in which he defeated the late Suseela Gopalan.

A Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) central committee member since 1972, Nayanar had been a member of the party's politburo since the mid-eighties. He had also served as the State secretary of the party for different terms.

In 1980, Nayanar became the Chief Minister, heading a coalition Government in which the Congress faction led by present Chief Minister A K Antony in the State was a partner.

But the Ministry fell in 1982 after the Congress faction withdrew support to his Government following serious differences, which ultimately led to reunion of Congress in the State.

Nayanar's second term was from 1987, but he could not complete the full five-year term, as his party decided to seek fresh mandate in 1991, thinking that the political climate was favourable for a return to power, which, however, proved wrong.

Nayanar returned to the 'gaddi' in 1996, aided by internal dynamics in the party and ran a full term till the Left Democratic Front (LDF) was thrown out of power in 2001.

Achuthanandan, who was projected as Chief Minister candidate in the poll, was defeated in Mararikkulam in 1996. A powerful faction in the party wanted Suseela Gopalan to be the Chief Minister, but when the matter was put to vote in the State Secretariat, the mantle fell on Nayanar.

As Chief Minister, many of his open comments on issues had triggered controversies, but he could wriggle out as in the final count everyone took it in a lighter vein as 'Nayanarism'.

A leader who prided himself as being basically a journalist, Naynar's briefings as Chief Minister and party leader were full of jibes and retorts. For any question from a scribe, he always had a repartee ready in his typical Malabar slang, with a smattering of English words and expressions.

A prolific writer, Nayanar had for long been editor of party daily, 'Deshabhimani'. He had also worked as correspondent of the daily in Chennai during its fledgling days.

His published works include political autobiography, 'My Struggles', both in English and Malayalam, and collections of articles.

He had been a regular contributor to 'Deshabhimani' till recently and his weekly column is widely acclaimed.

A widely travelled leader, he has also turned out with sketches of places he visited.

Perhaps the only Indian Communist leader to call on Pope John Paul II during his visit to Italy a few years back, Nayanar presented the pontiff with a copy of the Bhagavad Geeta.