KOZHIKODE: CPM MLA Kanathil Jameela, who represented the Koilandy constituency in the state assembly, passed away at a private hospital here around 8.40pm on Saturday. She was 60.The MLA was undergoing treatment for cancer for a long time. She was resting at home due to her condition and was admitted to the hospital on Saturday morning.Jameela had previously served as the president of the Kozhikode district panchayat, Chelannur block panchayat and Thalakkulathur panchayat. She was elected as MLA from Koyilandy in 2021.She first contested in the panchayat elections in 1995 and went on to become the Thalakkulathur grama panchayat president. In 2005, she successfully contested in the elections to the Chelannur block panchayat and became its president. She was also elected as the Kozhikode district panchayat president in 2010 and 2020. She later resigned as district panchayat president after being elected to the legislative assembly.Born in Kuttiyadi, Kozhikode, to T K Ali and T K Mariam, she was married to Abdul Rahman. She is survived by a son and a daughter.CPM state secretary M V Govindan and minister P A Muhammad Riyas visited the hospital to pay their respects. Her body will be taken to her residence, and the last rites will be held later, party leaders said.CM Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the death of Jameela. Vijayan said she rose step by step through local self-govt institutions, proving her administrative abilities before becoming a legislator. “Her simple and humane approach earned widespread acceptance,” he said. As a leader of the All India Democratic Women’s Association, she took up issues concerning women with conviction, he said.Speaker A N Shamseer expressed deep sorrow over her demise, calling it a painful loss. Opposition leader V D Satheesan also paid tribute to the departed leader. (With agency inputs)