K. Radhakrishnan (politician)

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 Chelakara SMTGHS. Radhakrishnan went for higher studies in Sri Vyasa NSS College, Wadakkanchery and Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur and while doing BA graduation, he entered into political activities.

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) state 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.

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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]