K. Radhakrishnan is an Indian politician and a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). In 2021, he was appointed as the Welfare Minister for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, Demons and Parliamentary Affairs in the Government of Kerala. From 2006 to 2011, he served as Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
Wiki/Biography
K. Radhakrishnan was born on Sunday, 24 May 1964 (age 59; as of 2023) in Vagamon, Pulikanan, Kerala. His zodiac sign is Gemini. He attended higher aided primary school in Thonoorkara and SMTGHSS in Chelakkara. Later, he studied at Sri Vyasa NSS College in Wadakanchery. From 1985 to 1988, he studied for BA in Economics at Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur. While growing up, he became interested in politics. He is an active member of the Students Federation of India (SFI), a left-wing student organization popularly known as the student wing of the Communist Party of India (M). He has served in various capacities like Unit Secretary of Sree Kerala Varma College, Member of Thrissur District Secretariat, Secretary of DYFI Chelakkara Block Committee, Member of DYFI State Committee, National President, Dalit Soshan Mukti Manch (DSMM), National President, Farm Worker Union (CtU), Chairman of Kerala Samsthana Kaliman Patra Nirmana Thozhilali Union (KPNTU) and Chairman of Steel and Industrial Forging Limited (SIFL) Union. Radhakrishnan was an activist in college, leading student protests against government education policies from 1982 to 1987, for which he was brutally beaten by police. He was actively involved in agricultural workers’ issues and organized protests with them. Moreover, his association with Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad and Total Literacy Movement helped him build a strong connect with the people.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′ 9″
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family and caste
He belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community (Dalit).
Parents and siblings
His father’s name is MC Kochunni and mother’s name is Chinna.
K. Radhakrishnan and his mother Chinna
wife and children
He is unmarried.
religion
K. Radhakrishnan is a Hindu.
address
His permanent address is Vadakkevalappil House, Thonnoorkara PO, Chelakkara, Thrissur -680610.
Profession
In 1991, Radhakrishnan was elected to Thrissur district council from Vallathol Nagar district. In 1996, he won the Cherakala Assembly seat by defeating INC candidate TA Radhakrishnan by 2323 votes. From 1996 to 2001, he joined the then EK Nayanar government as Minister for Backward and Scheduled Communities Welfare and Youth Affairs.
Old photos of K. Radhakrishnan and Mathai Chacko
In 2001, he won the Cherakala parliamentary seat by defeating Congress candidate Kathulasi by 1,475 votes. From 2001 to 2006, he served as Chief Whip of the Opposition. In 2006, he won the Cherakala Assembly seat by defeating Congress candidate PC Manikandan by 14,629 votes. He served as Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly from June 3, 2006 to May 13, 2011. Thereafter, he became a member of the Central Committee of the CPI(M). In 2011, he won the Cherakala Assembly seat by defeating INC candidate KB Sasikumar by 24,676 votes. In 2021, he won the Cherakala Assembly seat by defeating INC candidate CC Sreekumar by 44,015 votes. He held the post of SC/ST Welfare and Temple Management (Devaswom) in the second Pinarayi Vijayan Ministry.
Image by K. Radhakrishnan
dispute
Filed for illegal assembly and riot
According to his 2021 election affidavit, an FIR was registered against him for unlawful assembly, rioting, preventing public servants from discharging their duties, among others. Charges were filed against him under sections 143, 147, 149, 283 of IPC. Trivandrum Cantonment Police Station dial 332 and 353.
Revealing names of rape victims
In November 2016, K. Radhakrishnan came to public attention for revealing the name of the rape victim in the Wadakanchery sex scandal while interacting with the media. He revealed the woman’s name while explaining the party’s decision to suspend Jayanthan, the Vadakanchery municipal councilor who faced sexual harassment charges, from the party. Police have launched a preliminary investigation into complaints lodged by Youth Assembly activists. The complainant said that when he was warned not to reveal the victim’s name, Radhakrishnan said that if Jayanthan’s name could be revealed, then so could the victim’s name.
Assets and property
movable property
- Bank Deposit: Rs 1,01,651
- Bonds, Bonds and Equity: Rs 10,000
real estate
- Non-agricultural land: Rs 7,50,000
- Residential Building: Rs 16,00,000
Note: The movable and immovable property estimates given are based on the financial year 2020-21. It does not include assets owned by dependents.
net worth
As of 2021, his net worth is Rs 19,73,759. This does not include the net worth of dependents.
Facts/Trivia
- In an interview, talking about what inspired him to become a communist, he said:
My family believed in communism. We live in an age of inequality and exploitation. The Communist Party fought against social evils, and naturally we were inspired by this movement. Ideology changes the world order. “
- In 2021, Ajith, a native of Kachani, was arrested for making threatening calls to K Radhakrishnan’s office phone. The minister disclosed the incident while inaugurating the e-office facility of the Scheduled Castes Development Authority. The threatening call was reportedly related to an investigation into the misappropriation of funds provided by the SC Welfare Center.
- In September 2023, Radhakrishnan made headlines after he shared his experience of facing caste discrimination during a lamp-lighting ceremony to celebrate the inauguration of the Nadapanthal (temple porch) of the Payyanur Nambiatrakovval Siva temple, which is affiliated to the Devaswom Board. The incident took place on January 26, 2023, and the video went viral on the Internet, leading to a lawsuit being filed against the two pastors. Radhakrishnan said the chief priest refused to hand over the ritual lamp to him because he was a Dalit. He said the high priest gave the lamp to an assistant priest, but the assistant priest also refused to hand over the lamp and placed it on the floor. The minister said he felt insulted by the temple’s priests and officials. The incident sparked public outrage as many questioned how ordinary believers would be treated if such behavior were committed against a priest. It later emerged that the alleged untouchability incident was a “misunderstanding” of the ritual. The state committee of the Akhila Kerala Thanthri Samajam has revealed that priests performing ‘Deva Puja’ will not touch anyone, whether Brahmins or non-Brahmins, until the ceremony is over. The association also questioned whether there was malicious intent behind bringing up the incident and turning it into a controversy eight months later. It also claimed that many people ignored the facts and insulted the temple’s Mersanti and its community based on the minister’s statement. They accused Radhakrishnan of misinterpreting an innocent act and creating communal tension in the society.
- In August 2023, Mollywood actor Salim Kumar took a dig at the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government when Speaker AN Shamseer’s Science and Mythology speech sparked controversy. Kumar humorously suggested renaming Minister Devaswom as a “mythical” minister and took to social media to refer to temple offerings as “mythical money”. The actor attached a picture of K Radhakrishnan (Kerala Devaswoms Minister) while issuing a statement and said “change should start from the administrative centre”. A political controversy erupted in Kerala after Speaker Shamsher addressed schoolchildren at an event in Ernakulam on July 21 and criticized ideas that promoted myths instead of science . He referred to a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in a speech used Lord Ganesha as an ancient example of plastic surgery. The statement was contested by the BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Nair Service Society (NSS) and other organizations, with the BJP filing a police complaint against him.
- His hobbies include reading, watching sports and movies.
- He is not a vegetarian.
K. Radhakrishnan holding a fish
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education