K Karunakaran

In the course of Indian politics, specifically in Kerala, we will find the indelible marks of K. Karunakaran (1918-2010), a senior politician, belonging to the Indian National Congress Party, former Chief Minister of Kerala, former Home Minister Home Minister belongs to the game show genre. Zee >> Read More... of Kerala and also the Minister of Industries of Government of India. Yes, this biography has a lot of intimidating dates and details, but stick with it to know about an intimidating, ambitious man without whom Kerala politics cannot be understood.

He was born on 5th July, 1918 at Chirackkal, Kannur District. He was the third son of Shri. Thekkedathu Ramunni Marar and Smt. Kannoth Kalyani Amma. They were four brothers and a sister Devaki who, unfortunately, died at the young age of 5 years. As an active child, Karunakaran was very interested in sports like football, swimming, volleyball, and painting.

Even as a young boy he demonstrated a clear set of ideals. While being admitted to the lower primary school, he insisted them to not add his caste name to his official name, breaking the traditional norms of that time. He studied in Raja's High School. He sustained his interest in painting and opted for a diploma in Design and Painting from College of Arts, Thrissur. Smt.Kalyanikutty Amma was his wife and they had one son and a daughter. The son, Shri. K. Muraleedharan, was appointed as the Minister of Power in February 2004, while his daughter, Smt. Padmaja Venugopal Padmaja Venugopal is an Indian Politician. She is >> Read More... , was appointed as the Chairperson of Kerela Tourism Development Corporation, in 2001.

Growing up in turbulent times, when India’s freedom struggle was reaching its peak, K. Karunakaran did not shy away from adversity. A staunch patriot, he zealously participated in the freedom struggle as well in trade union activities and was also arrested and jailed on many occasions. He decided very early that his future lies in politics. He began his journey as a member of the then Trichur Municipal Council and was also one of the founding members of Indian National Trade Union Congress in Kerela, which today has over 4 million members.

He became a member of the Congress party. He was a close associate of the Gandhi family since Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. This closeness peaked during the tenure of Smt. Indira Gandhi and Shri. Rajiv Gandhi. Deemed a ‘kingmaker,’ Karunakaran played a pivotal role in Indian politics, by helping in choosing the successor, to Rajiv Gandhi, in Narsimha Rao. Karunakaran created an alliance of political parties, The United Democratic Front (UDF) in 1970, garnering support from different religious, social and caste groups.

A shrewd and skilled administrator, he carefully ensured cordiality and unity in the constituent parties. Karunakaran was elected Kerala’s Chief Minister, 4 times between 1977 and 1995, but his political career was fraught with roadblocks and he was able to complete his full term only once from 1982-1987. He has been elected to Rajya Sabha - 3 times and to Lok Sabha - twice. He also served 1 year as Minister of industries in the Union Cabinet. His era is marked with a legacy of coalition parties, his belief in factional politics, balance of differing ideologies, and also predominant role of minority communities in Kerala politics.

He took charge as the Chief Minister of Kerela for the first time on 25th March 1977, when the entire nation had voted against the Congress party in the post-emergency elections and Kerela was the only state that returned with a Congress-led government, with K. Karunakaran at its helm. However, the sweet taste of success turned bitter as he had to resign within a month, followed by the court references of the famous Rajan case. Kerala witnessed an unforgettable legal battle of human rights led by T.V. Eachara Warrier, Rajan’s father, who asked the state to produce his son Rajan (an engineering student, who had actively participated in protests against the emergency) in court.

Rajan was allegedly beaten and killed by the police at Kakkayam Police Torture Camp and the body was disposed of. Karunakaran was the Home Minister of Kerala during this period, he was later cleared by the court but the Rajan case was the one incident Karunakaran always tried to forget but never could. He was elected 3 more times. After being elected for the fourth time as Kerala’s Chief Minister in June 1991, Karunakaran had to resign on March 16, 1995, having been forced out by his colleagues, making way for A.K. Antony to take up the post Chief Minister of Kerala, in 2001. Resenting this move, Karunakaran set out to seek every opportunity of revenge which invited criticism from his opposition, accusing him of weakening the Congress in Kerala. Karunakaran and A K Antony were dubbed as the political version of Tom and Jerry. These disagreements cost him the favors of other senior members of the Indian National Congress.

With the sharp increase in factional meetings in Kerala, mostly led by Karunakaran’s son K. Muraleedharan. The Congress Click to look into! >> Read More... party decided to suspend Muraleedharan. With his son being pushed out, Karunakaran left the Indian National Congress and formed a new political outfit with himself as the President of Democratic Indira Congress. It had now become his ambition to anoint his son as his successor. Unfortunately, in this process, he misread the undercurrents in the political environment.

The party is defunct now. Quick to realize his mistake, Karunakaran and his son returned to the Nationalist Congress party (NCP). Later, Karunakaran left NCP and joined the Congress Party. However, his son Muraleedharan, dissociated himself from Karunakaran and decided to be the NCP instead. This great political stalwart passed away on 23 December 2010 at Ananthapuri Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram at the age of 92. He was suffering from respiratory problems, fever and other age related diseases.

His condition worsened following a stroke and death, when he had a cardiac arrest. Karunakaran was an amalgamation of great strengths and weaknesses. Despite this, he was loved by his admirers who affectionately called him ‘leader’, hated by his enemies but respected by all. He remained a Congressman till the end. He was truly a force to be reckoned with in the political history of Kerala.