Veteran Congress leader K Sankaranarayanan, who was a politician with a national significance, has passed away in his home state of Kerala on Sunday - April 24 at the age of 89 due to health-related ailments. Several leaders from across the state and the country have been expressing tribute to the deceased and he was the epitome of a Governorship of various states. 

Unlike any other Indian Governor, Sankaranarayanan has held the post in various states. He has served as Governor of Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Jharkhand. He also has served as the Governor in an additional charge in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Goa. Besides his prominent Governorship, Sankaranarayanan had served as an MLA four times in Kerala and had held finance, excise, and agriculture portfolios in various governments of Kerala led by Chief Ministers AK Antony and K Karunakaran.

He was under treatment for various ailments for the past one-and-a-half years. Amid getting treatment, he had breathed his last at his residence in Palakkad, Kerala. His body has been kept at his residence and it will be kept at the Congress party office for the public to pay homage. It will be cremated at around 5.30 pm on Monday. Several leaders including Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had paid tribute to the departed leader. 

In his tweet, Arif Mohammed Khan wrote, "My heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Shri K Sankaranarayanan, former Governor of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Nagaland. Sankaranarayanan's career as a leader, minister, & Governor was marked by rich administrative experience and firm social commitment. His demise is a loss to Kerala and the nation. May his soul attain Mukti." 

Pinarayi Vijayan said, "He (Sankaranarayanan) upheld the Nehruvian perspective, including secularism while addressing public issues without the accompaniment of hatred or any other sectarian considerations. He held the position of UDF convenor for a long time and always took a positive outlook towards the issues faced by the people and the development aspects of the state." 

Kerala Opposition leader Satheesan wrote, "The demise of Sankaranarayanan is a great loss of the Congress party. He was like a mentor to me. He led the UDF for 16 years. Even during a severe political crisis, Sankaranarayanan faced everything with ease and in an exemplary manner." Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several national leaders had paid tribute to Sankaranarayanan and expressed condolences to his family.