K. Radhakrishnan (politician)

K. Radhakrishnan (born 24 May 1964) is an Indian politician, who is currently serving as a central committee member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was a former Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2011. He is a politician from Thrissur and also served as the Minister of SC / ST Affairs and Youth Affairs in the third E. K. Nayanar ministry from 1996 to 2001. He was elected from Chelakkara constituency. He served as the MLA of Chelakkara from 1996 to 2016.

K. Radhakrishnan
Radhakrishnan at Kerala Padana Congress 2015 at Thrissur
Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly
In office
3 June 2006 (2006-06-03)  13 May 2011 (2011-05-13)
Preceded byTherambil Ramakrishnan
Succeeded byG. Karthikeyan
ConstituencyChelakkara
Personal details
Born (1964-05-24) 24 May 1964
Idukki, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Political partyCommunist Party of India (Marxist)
Parents
  • M. C. Kochunni
  • Chinamma
ResidenceThrissur, Kerala
EducationBachelor of Arts
Alma mater

Early life

He was born on 24 May 1964 in Idukki. His parents are M. C. Kochunni and Chinamma. His father was a plantation worker, who hailed from Chelakkara in Thrissur district. He completed his primary education in Thonurkara UP School. He completed his high school education at Chelakkara SMTGHS. Radhakrishnan went for higher studies in Sri Vyasa NSS College, Wadakkacherry and Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur and while doing his B.A graduation, he entered into political activities.

Political life

He was an active member in SFI, holding posts like unit secretary of Kerala Varma college, Chelakkara area secretary, and member of Thrissur district secretariat as an SFI leader. He also worked as Chelakkara Block Committee secretary and state committee member of DYFI, and he is now CPI(M) central committee member. Radhakrishnan was elected to the Thrissur District Council in 1991 from the Vallathol Nagar division. He was elected to the Assembly in 1996, 2001 and 2006. He served as Minister for the Welfare of Backward and Scheduled Communities and Youth Affairs from 1996 to 2001. He was Opposition Chief Whip from 2001 to 2006.[1]

Leading student's agitations against the Education Policy of the Government during 1982–87, he was arrested and tortured by the police. Radhakrishnan vigorously involved himself in the problems of Agricultural laborers and organized them. He also participated in the activities of Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad and Total Literacy Movement.

K. Radhakrishnan was the 18th Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. Radhakrishnan was elected Speaker by 93 votes to 40 secured by the Opposition United Front (UDF) candidate M. Murali of the Congress. He completed his term as speaker, the second speaker to do so after M. Vijayakumar, who was incidentally the Minister of Law & Sports during his term as speaker. After quitting the office, he served as MLA for five more years, and left office in 2016. He was succeeded by his colleague U. R. Pradeep.

Elections

YEARCONSTITUENCYWINNERPARTY AND GROUPDEFEATED CANDIDATEPARTY AND GROUP
2011Chelekara constituencyK. RadhakrishnanCPM LDFK.B SasikumarCongress(I) UDF
2006Chelekara constituencyK. RadhakrishnanCPM LDFP.C ManikandanCongress(I) UDF
2001Chelekara constituencyK. RadhakrishnanCPM LDFK.A TulasiCongress(I) UDF
1996Chelekara constituencyK. RadhakrishnanCPM LDFT.A RadhakrishnanCongress(I) UDF

[2][3][4]

Controversies

K Radhakrishnan on behalf of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) briefed reporters on 5th Nov 2016 to announce the suspension of P.N. Jayanthan in the wake of rape charges against him. While making the statement announcing the suspension of Jayanthan before the media, Radhakrishnan named the gangrape victim. When prodded by journalists not to reveal the name of the victim, he sternly said, “So you can name Jayanthan , but you can’t name the victim? That’s not right.”.[5] This has invited stern criticism from various quarters as naming the rape victim violates Section 228A in The Indian Penal Code.[6]

References

  1. "Sitting MLAs dominate CPI(M)'s candidates list for Thrissur". The Hindu. 19 March 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  2. "KERALA LEGISLATURE - SPEAKER". Legislativebodies. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  3. "Radhakrishnan elected Thrissur Mayor". The Hindu. 29 April 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  4. "Past Mayors". Thrissur Municipal Corporation. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  5. "CPM leader names Kerala gangrape victim, justifies act". The Indian Express. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  6. "Section 228A in The Indian Penal Code". indiankanoon.org. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
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