Kozhikode, 03 March (H.S.):Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister K.P. Unnikrishnan passed away on Sunday at the age of 89.
He breathed his last at Aster MIMS Hospital in Kozhikode, where he had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments.
His death marks the end of a distinguished political career that spanned several decades and left a significant imprint on Kerala and national politics.
Born on September 20, 1936, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, to I. Kunjikannan Nair, Unnikrishnan grew up to become an influential political figure known for his articulate speeches and organisational skills. He completed his education at prestigious institutions including Madras Christian College, Presidency College, and Government Law College in Madras (now Chennai), equipping himself with a strong academic foundation before entering public life.
Unnikrishnan began his political journey during his school and college years as a member of the Praja Socialist Party. In 1960, he joined the Indian National Congress, marking the beginning of his long association with the party. From 1962 onwards, he served as a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), steadily rising within the party ranks.
Before entering electoral politics, Unnikrishnan worked as a journalist. In 1971, he contested the Lok Sabha elections from Vadakara in Kerala as a Congress candidate and secured his first victory. He went on to represent Vadakara multiple times in Parliament, winning elections in 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, and 1991, thereby establishing himself as a prominent voice from Kerala in the national legislature.
During 1989–90, he served as Union Minister in the V.P. Singh government, holding portfolios including Telecommunications, Shipping, and Surface Transport. Over the years, he was closely associated with prominent leaders such as V.K. Krishna Menon and was regarded as a trusted figure during Indira Gandhi’s leadership. However, political differences later led him to leave the Congress and join Congress (U) and subsequently Congress (S). In 1995, he returned to the Indian National Congress.
K.P. Unnikrishnan is remembered as a seasoned parliamentarian, a principled politician, and a respected leader whose contributions to public life will endure in Kerala’s political history.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
