Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

New Cabinet marks generational change in the Left Democratic Front

Special Correspondent

Many of the Ministers-designate represent the Generation Next in their parties

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The most striking aspect of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Cabinet that assumes office on Thursday is the generational change that it marks in the Left in Kerala. Of the 19 Ministers in the V.S. Achuthanandan Cabinet, a majority are in their 40s and 50s.

V.S. Achuthanandan

The oldest in the team is Mr. Achuthanandan, who will turn 83 on October 20. The veteran of many a battle is currently one of the senior-most members of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Polit Bureau. Although known as a Marxist hardliner, he has in him the capability to go deep into subjects as varied as water and land rights of the people and monopolistic practices of multinational information technology conglomerates. The challenge before him is to reinvent himself as an administrator of the modern times.

K.P. Rajendran

A third timer in the Kerala Assembly, K. P. Rajendran is one of the new generation leaders of the CPI. He was the leader of the CPI Legislature party in the last Assembly. Son of K.P. Prabhakaran, veteran CPI leader from Anthikkad, the heartland of toddy industry in Kerala, Mr. Rajendran began as a student political activist and rose to become the State secretary of the All-India Students Federation (AISF). Aged 51, Rajendran was elected to the Assembly from Cherpu in Thrissur in 1996 and 2001.

P.J. Joseph

A fellow traveller of the Left for over a decade and a half, 65-year-old P.J. Joseph is entering the Assembly for the seventh time and he has served as a member of the House for more than a quarter century. He was first elected to the House in 1970 and became Home Minister in the 1978 A. K. Antony Cabinet. He became Minister for Education and Revenue in the 1981 Karunakaran Cabinet and returned in 1982 to hold Revenue portfolio. He broke away from the United Democratic Front (UDF) in 1989 and became Revenue, Housing, Public Works and Education Minister in the 1996 E.K. Nayanar Government.

N.K. Premachandran

For 46-year-old N.K. Premachandran, this is a double debut: as member of the Kerala Assembly and as Minister. He was elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Kollam in 1996 and 1998. He has been serving as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2000 and resigned his membership of the Upper House on Tuesday.

Paloli Mohammed Kutty

Born on November 11, 1931, Paloli Mohammed Kutty is widely respected for his affable ways and his moderate positions. Along with E. M. S. Namboodiripad and T.M. Thomas Isaac, he was one of the architects of People's Plan Campaign. He was first elected to the Assembly in 1965, but could not serve as MLA as it proved to be a hung Assembly. He was returned to the House in 1967 from Perinthalmanna and later in 1996 from Ponnani. Hailing from Kodoor in Malappuram district, Mr. Mohammed Kutty has studied only up to the upper primary level. He played his part in democratic decentralisation in Kerala as the Local Administration Minister in the 1996-2001 Nayanar Cabinet.

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

Impressive parliamentarian and one of the future leaders of the CPI(M) in Kerala, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan rose from the party ranks after starting out as a student leader. Son of Kunhunni Kurup and Narayani Amma, Mr. Balakrishnan was born at Kodiyeri in Kannur district on November 16, 1953. A graduate, he was State secretary of the Students Federation of India (SFI) and office-bearer of various trade unions. He was arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during Emergency and imprisoned for 16 months. He was first elected to the Kerala Assembly in 1982. This is his first stint as Minister.

M.A. Baby

The popular face of the CPI(M), M.A. Baby is a politician and a cultural activist rolled into one. A connoisseur of music and the arts, Mr. Baby has been instrumental in taking the party closer to the cultural elite. Although a debutant in the Kerala Assembly, 52-year-old Baby was member of the Rajya Sabha twice and had proved his parliamentary efficiency as a member of the panel of chairmen in the Upper House. He became part of the political process as a student activist and rose to become State president of the SFI and national president of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI).

T.M. Thomas Isaac

A revolutionary and a brilliant academic, T.M. Thomas Isaac is a widely respected economist and a former member of the Centre For Development Studies (CDS) faculty. Dr. Isaac was the moving spirit behind People's Plan Campaign (1996-2001) that revolutionised local governance in Kerala. With the support of E.M.S. Namboodiripad, Dr. Isaac, as member of the State Planning Board, led the campaign that effectively reengineered governance mechanism at the grassroots and introduced the concept of planning below. He entered politics as a student activist and was State president of the SFI. This is 53-year-old Dr. Isaac's second stint as a member of the Assembly and debut as Minister. He brings with him deep knowledge of the State's economy, particularly of traditional industries.

P.K. Gurudasan

The Veteran trade union leader P.K. Gurudasan brings to the LDF Cabinet long years of experience among the working class in Kollam. This is Mr. Gurudasan's debut as member of the Assembly, but he has already made a mark as a trade union activist and leader. Currently State president of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the CPI(M) central committee, 71-year-old Mr. Gurudasan adds to the working class sheen of the LDF Cabinet.

S. Sarma

The only CPI(M) Minister to be with previous experience, 51-year-old S. Sarma came into the panel of Ministers at the last minute. He was a student and youth activist and rose to become the State president and secretary of the DYFI and the organisation's national vice-president. He became Electricity Minister in the E. K. Nayanar Cabinet. He was earlier elected to the House in 1987, 1991 and 1996.

P.K. Sreemathy

For 57-year old P.K. Sreemathy, this is the second stint as a member of the Kerala Assembly. State secretary of the All-India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), Ms. Sreemathy is a teacher by profession and a member of the CPI(M) Central committee. She began as a youth activist and was State vice-president of the Kerala Socialist Youth Federation (KSYF), which later became the State unit of the DYFI.

A.K. Balan

For someone who began from a humble background, 57-year-old A. K. Balan has travelled long in politics. Beginning as a student activist, he rose to become the State secretary and president of the SFI. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Ottappalam (SC) constituency in 1980. Balan was the president of the Palakkad District Council.

M. Vijayakumar

A former Speaker of the Kerala Assembly (1996-2001), 56-year-old M. Vijayakumar rose to prominence as a fiery youth agitator and later matured into a widely respected politician. He began his political career as a student activist and rose to become general secretary of the SFI and national president of the DYFI. This is his fourth term as MLA. In 1996, he became Speaker. This is Mr. Vijayakumar's debut as Minister.

Elamaram Karim

A trade union activist, Elamaram Karim represents Beypore in the 12th Kerala Assembly. Mr. Karim, who was a worker at Mavoor Gwalior Rayons Ltd., was first elected to the Assembly 1996. Aged 52, Mr. Karim is a member of the CPI(M) State committee and one of the secretaries of the CITU State committee. This is his debut as Minister.

G. Sudhakaran

The former State secretary and national vice president of the SFI, 59-year-old G. Sudhakaran is currently Alappuzha district secretary of the CPI(M). A lawyer by profession, Mr. Sudhakaran has been active in the trade union front as well.

C. Divakaran

C. Divakaran, 65, is Mr. Gurudasan's counterpart in the State unit of the All-India Trade Union Council (AITUC) and brings with him his educational background as a lawyer and trade union activist.

Benoy Viswom

For the pleasant and mild mannered Benoy Viswom, political activism has been part of life since his birth. His father, C. K. Viswanathan, was a senior leader of the Communist party and a member of the Kerala Assembly representing Vaikom. He became a member of the CPI at the age of 18 and is currently a member of its national council.

Mullakkara Ratnakaran

For someone who is yet to grow out of his image as a youth leader, Mullakkara Ratnakaran presents a pleasant surprise.

He is unassuming and almost an introvert, despite having led the State unit of the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) for long and led it through major campaigns. He is currently a member of the CPI State secretariat. This is his first term as MLA.

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