Former Union Minister and six-time Member of Parliament from Vadakara, Kerala, K.P. Unnikrishnan, aged 89, has passed away, concluding a political career spanning over three decades. Born on September 20, 1936, he hailed from a family in the Malabar coast, with E. Kunhikannan Nair as his father. Unnikrishnan pursued his education at Madras Christian College, Chennai, and later obtained a law degree in the same city.
His political journey commenced with affiliations to the Socialist Party and the Praja Socialist Party before eventually joining the Indian National Congress during the 1960s. By 1962, he became a member of the All India Congress Committee. Prior to his full-time political engagement, Unnikrishnan worked as a journalist, contributing articles to Mathrubhumi and other publications as a special correspondent.
In 1971, Unnikrishnan entered the electoral arena as the Congress candidate from Vadakara, marking the beginning of a successful run. He secured victory in six consecutive Lok Sabha elections from 1971 to 1991, showcasing a strong bond with the constituency. Despite transitioning between political parties, from Congress(U) to Indian Congress (Socialist), he remained undefeated until his sole loss in Vadakara in 1996.
Between 1981 and 1984, Unnikrishnan led Congress (Secular) in Parliament and served on the Public Accounts Committee from 1980 to 1982. Notably, he held the position of Union Minister for Telecommunications, Shipping, and Surface Transport in V. P. Singh’s Cabinet from 1989 to 1990. His ministerial tenure was marked by significant contributions, including overseeing the evacuation of Indians during the Gulf War crisis.
Following his defeat in 1996, Unnikrishnan retired from active politics and split his time between New Delhi and his ancestral residence in Panniyankara, Kozhikode district, focusing on reading and writing.
