Cabinet callings
Thomas Isaac
Alappuzha
Having made a mark in state politics with his brand of alternative politics for local development, Dr T M Thomas Isaac has been the force behind Kerala’s much-debated people’s planning.
Vibrant leadership and vision helped Isaac become the Finance Minister of the state for a second term. The development programmes initiated by the PhD holder from JNU are models to the country. People’s planning to bio vegetable farming, Isaac has a different view and approach in every initiative. Isaac’s home village is Kodungallur. His tryst with Alappuzha began in 2001 when he contested the Assembly polls from Mararikulam. Many of his research papers were presented in various universities across the world.
E P Jayarajan
Mattannur
E P Jayarajan is all set to take over as the next Industries Minister of the state. Born to B M Krishnan Nambiar and E P Parvathi on May 28, 1950, he has seven siblings. After completing his education from Kalyassery Kannapuram LP School, Cherukkunu Government High School, Kannur Kambil Government High School and Kannur SN College, he entered student politics and actively participated in it along with his elder brother, a former member of Kalayasseri panchayat and Karshaka Sangham. Despite getting job in Irinavu Cooperative Bank, he left it to actively pursue politics. He was the first president of DYFI in the state. Though he learned the nuances of politics from his political guru M V Raghavan, after MVR left the CPM, he contested against him in 1987 from Azhikode and lost. Now residing at Aroli, Jayarajan’s wife Indira works as manager in the District Cooperative Bank. They have two children.
E P Jayarajan
Mattannur
E P Jayarajan is all set to take over as the next Industries Minister of the state. Born to B M Krishnan Nambiar and E P Parvathi on May 28, 1950, he has seven siblings. After completing his education from Kalyassery Kannapuram LP School, Cherukkunu Government High School, Kannur Kambil Government High School and Kannur SN College, he entered student politics and actively participated in it along with his elder brother, a former member of Kalayasseri panchayat and Karshaka Sangham. Despite getting job in Irinavu Cooperative Bank, he left it to actively pursue politics. He was the first president of DYFI in the state. Though he learned the nuances of politics from his political guru M V Raghavan, after MVR left the CPM, he contested against him in 1987 from Azhikode and lost. Now residing at Aroli, Jayarajan’s wife Indira works as manager in the District Cooperative Bank. They have two children.
Prof C Raveendranath
Puthukkad
C Raveendranath will be the second minister from non-Minority community to hold the education portfolio, after K Chandrasekharan in 1987. He was instrumental in developing the constituency in tune with the changing times by undertaking biodiversity conservation initiatives, augmenting farm production, and implementing e-learning initiatives.
Mathew T Thomas
Thiruvalla
For Mathew T Thomas, the fourth-term MLA from Tiruvalla, this is the second assignment as a minister. Earlier, Thomas had won accolades during his two-and-a-half year-long stint as Transport Minister. He visionary steps to bring out the KSRTC from deep crisis was also hailed. He tasted first victory in Assembly polls at the age of 26.
Kadannappally Ramachandran
Kannur
Kadannappally Ramachandran, 71, entered mainstream politics with a bang as he trounced veteran CPM leader E K Nayanar in the Kasargod Lok Sabha constituency in 1971 at the age of 26. He was re-elected from the same constituency in
1977 and moved to the Left when A K Antony left the Congress. He kept away from electoral politics for a long time till Edakkad, in its last election, beckoned him in 2006. His wife is a retired teacher.
E Chandrasekharan
Kanhangad
In 2011, when the CPI nominated the party’s treasurer-secretary E Chandrasekharan as the LDF’s candidate in Kanhangad Assembly constituency, he went home miffed. He was annoyed because the party pushed him into electoral politics without his permission. But the party insisted and he hesitantly relented. Chandrasekharan, an idealist, of course, won by 12,178 votes. In 2016, he increased his victory margin to 26,011 votes, attracting more than half of the total votes polled. One of the most senior leaders of the CPI in the state, Chandrasekharan, 66, will be part of the Pinarayi Vijayan’s cabinet too. The district is getting a Minister after 13 years. A class 10 pass, Chandrasekharan acquired knowledge working for the CPI and people. His grasp of laws and interpretations of court orders are much relied on by the party. He entered politics through AIYF, the youth front of the CPI, in 1969.
A K Saseendran
Elathur
AK Saseendran, who parted with Congress along with A K Antony and Oommen Chandy, is getting a ministerial post 37 years after his stint with LDF. Saseendran and Kadannappally Ramachandran, now in two different parties, were members of Congress (A) legislature party in 1980. Born on January 29, 1946, in Kannur, Saseendran started his political career through KSU in the early 1960s. He was first elected to the Assembly in 1980.
J Mercy Kutty Amma
Kundara
Even though J Mercy Kutty Amma had opened her political innings with SFI, she proved her mettle as a trade union leader. She had contested five times from Kundara, and tasted victory three times. She first became an MLA at 28. She was the Central Working Committee member of SFI, CPM district committee member, Malsya Thozhilali Union district secretary, chairperson, Committee on Public Undertakings and CITU All India vice-president.
A C Moideen
Kunnamkulam
A C Moideen, former CPM district secretary, shot to limelight in the 2004 byelections when he wrested the Wadakkancherry seat from the UDF after conceding seven consecutive defeats. And it was the UDF candidate K Muraleedharan’s decision to step down as KPCC chief to become electricity minister that led to a voter backlash and consequent defeat. Thus Moideen became a giant killer who could change the course of state politics by defeating K Muraleedharan. Though A C Moideen served as an MLA for two terms and proved his calibre as a people’s representative, he was known more for his organisational skills in the party rather than as a Parliamentarian.He began his political carrier as an SFI activist, became a party member in 1977.
P Thilothaman
Cherthala
P Thilothaman of CPI is a fresh face in the ministry. His back-to-back victories from Cherthala Assembly constituency and efficiency as the party district secretary helped him attain the post. The leader represented Cherthala in the Legislative Assembly for the first time in 2006 after routing Shaji Mohan of the Congress. He retained the seat in 2011 by defeating JSS leader and former minister K R Gouri. And,in 2016 he proved his mettle for the third time.Thilothaman, a graduate in economics, started his political career through the AISF. He had held the posts of district president and AISF state vice-president. He had also served vice-president of Coirfed, state president of Coir Workers Federation (AITUC), president of Kerala Land Development Corporation Employees Union, taluk president of Toddy Tappers Union and many more.
T P Ramakrishnan
Perambra
For the people of Perambra, T P Ramakrishnan, a senior Communist leader in the district, is one among them. Being their leader, 65-year-old Ramakrishnan won his electoral battle for a second term with a margin of 4,101 votes in 2016. From a grassroots-level worker to the post of CPM district secretary and now to state cabinet, Ramakrishnan has managed several critical situations faced by the party during his three terms as district secretary. For Ramakrishnan, there is no ‘dream project’, to be rolled out in his constituency. He says that dreaming is easy, but what matters is realising the dream. “Importance will be given to basic infrastructure, including potable water supply, housing, road development and health. There should be concerted attempts to resolve the crisis by joining hands with local bodies,” says Ramakrishanan. “Apart from road development, health sector and education will also get due consideration,” he says. Born on June 15, 1950, R amakrishnan, entered politics as a member of Kerala Student Federation (KSF), former version of SFI. He was elected to Kerala Assembly from Perambra in In 2001.
V S Sunilkumar
Thrissur
V S Sunilkumar, the CPI’s young firebrand, who had presented the highest number of adjournment motions for the LDF in the last Assembly, recorded his third back-to-back victory in this year’s polls. A former AISF national secretary, Sunilkumar had held various positions in the party. Born on May 30, 1967, he was a member of the CPI state executive, he was first elected to the Assembly from the erstwhile Cherpu constituency in 2006.
K K Shylaja
Koothuparamba
The 59-year-old K K Shylaja was born in a CPM family to K Kundan and K K Shantha. A native of Madathil, near Irrity in Kannur district, her date of birth is November 20, 1956. She is the state secretary of Mahila Association. She was a teacher by profession, but later took voluntary retirement in 2004 to enter active politics. She contested for the Assembly polls from Koothuparamba in 1996 and 2001 and won. Married to K Bhaskaran, she has two sons.
K T Jaleel
Tavanur
KT Jaleel is also a giant killer as his first term was by beating P K Kunhalikutty. He is the first Independent, after Lonappan Nambadan in 1987 to get a cabinet berth. The Minister post has come in recognition of his efforts to retain the Left’s hold in Thavanur, Ponnani and Tirur. This is the third successive term for Jaleel in the Assembly and second from Thavanur. Jaleel is a PhD holder from Kerala University. and associate professor in PSMO College.
G Sudhakaran
Ambalappuzha
His role as a CPM state committee member and the adept handling of the portfolios of Devaswom, Coir and Cooperation in the V S Achuthanandan Government, bought the Ambalappuzha MLA a Cabinet berth in the Pinarayi Government.
He took the plunge into politics as an SFI activist in the Thiruvananthapuram Law College and became the first SFI state president in 1967. He is representing the constituency for the third term.
Kadakampally Surendran
Kazhakoottam
Kadakampally Surendran, the Power Minister- designate in the Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet, entered politics through student and youth movements. He became a party member in 1974. The 62-year-old has served the party in various capacities. In 2008, he was elected as a state committee member of the party in its 19th State Conference held in Kottayam. He has also been a CITU national council member.In 1996, he won Assembly polls from Kazhakkoottam with a margin of over 24,000 votes.