Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan (born 26 December 1949) is an Indian politician and lawyer from the state of Kerala who is currently the Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. Niyamasabha site (Archived version) From 13 April 2012 to 1 January 2014, he was the Home Minister in Oommen Chandy Ministry, Government of Kerala. He simultaneously held the Vigilance portfolio for the same time period and subsequently took over Forest, Transport, Sports, Cinema & Environment portfolios for the remaining duration of the ministry. Kerala Government Official Website
Personal life Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan was born to K. P. Parameswaran Pillai and M. G. Gourikutty Amma on 26 December 1949 at Thiruvanchoor in the erstwhile United State of Travancore and Cochin. He completed a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) degree from Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram and worked as an advocate in Kottayam bar.
He married Lalithambika. They have two sons, Dr. Anupam Radhakrishnan and Arjun Radhakrishnan; and a daughter, Athira Radhakrishnan.
Political life Thiruvanchoor entered public service as a student activist, through Balajanasakhyam, KSU and Youth Congress, rising to become the leader of various youth organizations. He held many important positions within KSU, Youth Congress and KPCC, including:
President, All Kerala Balajanasakhyam (1965) Chairman, Baselias College Union and General Secretary (1967) KSU State General secretary (1967) KSU State President (1967) Youth Congress State President (1978) KPCC General Secretary (1984-2001) Opposition Chief Whip (12th Kerala Assembly)
He contested the 1987 Kerala Legislative Assembly election from Kottayam assembly, and he lost to T.K Ramakrishnan of CPI(M).
He was elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006 from Adoor and currently represents Kottayam constituency. He also served as the General Secretary of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (I).
Major election victoriesYearConstituencyClosest rivalMajority (votes)1991AdoorR. Unnikrishna Pillai(CPI(M))5,7671996AdoorK. N. Balagopal(CPI(M))9,2012001AdoorKadamminitta Ramakrishnan(LDF-IND)14,0502006AdoorD. K. John (Kerala Congress)18,4642011KottayamV. N. Vasavan(CPI(M))7112016KottayamReji Sakharia(CPI(M))33,6322021KottayamK. Anilkumar(CPI(M))18,7432026KottayamK. Anilkumar (CPI(M))35,986
Administrative roles UDF Government 2004–2006:
Minister of Irrigation & Water Resources (2004–2006) Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (2004–2006) Minister of Forest-Wildlife Protection (March 2005 to January 2006) Minister of Health (January to June 2006 )
UDF Government 2011–2016:
Minister of Revenue (18 May 2011 – 13 April 2012) Minister of Home, Vigilance, Fire and rescue (13 April 2012 – 31 December 2013) Minister for Forests, Sports, Cinema, Road Transport, Environment (1 January 2014 – 12 May 2016)
References