Thalekunnil Basheer

{{Short description|Indian politician (1945–2022)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Thalekunnil Basheer

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| birth_date = {{birth date|1945|3|7|df=y}}

| birth_place = Thalekunnu, Travancore, British Raj

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|3|25|1945|3|7|df=y}}

| death_place = Vembayam, Kerala, India

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Thalekunnil Basheer (7 March 1945 – 25 March 2022) was an Indian politician from Indian National Congress. Basheer first entered politics in 1977, when he was elected to the Kazhakuttam Legislative Assembly. After Congress named A.K. Antony as Chief Minister, Basheer resigned his seat to allow Antony to run for the Assembly.{{Cite news |last=Anand |first=G. |date=2022-03-25 |title=Congress veteran Thalekunnil Basheer, 79, no more |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/congress-veteran-thalaikunnil-basheer-is-dead/article65258460.ece |access-date=2022-05-07 |issn=0971-751X}} He was a member of Rajya Sabha from 1977 to 1979 and from 1979 to 1984, and a member of Lok Sabha from 1984 to 1989 and 1989 to 1991 when he was elected in the Chirayankeezhu Lok Sabha seat. He later served as District Congress Committee president, Thiruvananthapuram and general secretary, and vice president of KPCC.{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |last3=Ist |first3= |title=Veteran Congress leader Thalekunnil Basheer dies at 77 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/kerala-veteran-congress-leader-thalekunnil-basheer-dies-at-77/articleshow/90452142.cms |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=The Times of India |language=en}} He also served as Acting President of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee in 2011 when KPCC President Ramesh chennithala contested in assembly poll.

He was a brother in law of Malayalam actor Prem Nazir, having married Nazir's younger sister Suhra.{{Cite web|title=Members - Kerala Legislature|url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m080.htm|access-date=2022-02-14|website=www.niyamasabha.org}}

Basheer died from a heart attack at his home in Vembayam on March 25, 2022, at the age of 77.