Kochi ,07 Jan (H.S.): The funeral of former Kerala minister and senior Indian Union Muslim League leader V.K. Ibrahim Kunju will be held today morning, with leaders from across the political spectrum expected to attend and pay their final respects.

The burial is scheduled for 10.30 am at the Alangad Juma Masjid graveyard in Aluva, near Kochi. Several prominent leaders of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the United Democratic Front (UDF), and representatives from social and cultural organisations are expected to be present at the funeral ceremony.

Ibrahim Kunju passed away on Monday afternoon around 3 pm at a private hospital in Kochi, where he had been undergoing treatment for lung cancer. His demise marked the end of a long public life that combined legislative politics with active participation in Kerala’s development institutions.

Thousands of people gathered to pay their last respects during the public viewing held on Monday at VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi and later at Kalamassery. The outpouring of grief reflected his enduring influence in public life and the respect he commanded across party lines.

Among those who offered tributes on Monday were Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, Industries Minister P. Rajeeve, and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala. KPCC president Sunny Joseph and several other leaders are expected to pay homage today. Public viewing at his residence will continue until 10 am.

Beyond electoral politics, Ibrahim Kunju held several key institutional roles. He served as a director of Cochin International Airport Limited, was a Syndicate member of the Cochin University of Science and Technology, and the sole non-official member of the executive committee of the Goshree Islands Development Authority. He was also an executive committee member of the Greater Cochin Development Authority.

Widely regarded as an administrator with a deep understanding of urban development and public policy, V.K. Ibrahim Kunju leaves behind a legacy of public service that shaped both Kerala’s politics and Kochi’s growth.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman