THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four-time minister and Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader T M Jacob, who died on Sunday, was remembered by the Kerala Assembly as a member who studied and presented issues in depth, a systematic administrator, and a politician who remained a victor in the face of crisis.Paying homage to Jacob in the House on Wednesday, Speaker G Karthikeyan described him as a brilliant legislator and administrator. He recalled three occasions when the House witnessed Jacob’s skill. On June 24, 1986, Jacob, the then Education Minister, answered questions non-stop for two hours on the Pre Degree Board, which was then a controversial issue.He repeated the performance in December 1987, when the House discussed the Kerala Public Men’s Corruption (Investigations and Inquiries) Bill from December 12th to 13th morning.On November 29, 2001, Jacob calmly took over, when the then Health Minister, who piloted the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital (Transfer of Administration) Bill, fell ill and had to leave the House.“He replied correctly to all amendments proposed by the members. He was able to make it his own Bill even though it did not deal with his department. We can never forget that day,” Karthikeyan said.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the Pre Degree Board was a testimony to Jacob’s foresight. He remembered how, at the time, even the members of the ruling front could barely fathom the proposal. Kerala got a comprehensive water policy during Jacob’s tenure as the Water Resources Minister. “It was he who gave me the courage to include the rice at Re 1 a kg scheme in the UDF Government’s 100-day programme. He was also instrumental in issuing nearly six lakh ration cards,” Chandy said. Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan remembered Jacob as a strong legislator who was skillful enough to introduce Bills and coax the members to accept it through debates. “Even when we opposed him in politics, we maintained a warm friendship with him,” he said.
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