K Radhakrishnan, The "Clean Image" Candidate Of CPM (image@K Radhakrishnan_)

Kerala’s ruling party CPM is placing heavyweights for the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The candidates include former finance minister T M Thomas Isaac, and former health minister K K Shailaja. The party also gave tick to Devasom minister K Radhakrishnan from Alathur in Palakkad district.

Radhakrishnan is currently serving as the Minister of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Backward Classes, Devasoms, and Parliamentary Affairs in the second Pinarayi Vijayan government of Kerala. He also served as the Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2011. He was the Minister of SC/ST Affairs and Youth Affairs during the third E. K. Nayanar ministry from 1996 to 2001. Radhakrishnan is the All India President of Pattikajathi Kshema Samithi.

Born in Idukki district’s Pullikkanam, Radhakrishnan has been active in politics from his college days. He was a sound an active member of SFI. He was member of Trissur district secretariate as an SFI leader. K Radhakrishnan was elected as the Trissur District

Alathur once was a CPM citadel, where P K Biju has won twice. In 2019, CPM lost the seat to Congress’ Ramya Haridas over 1.59 lakh. The party believe that Radhakrishnan will wrest the seat back. Radhakrishnan’s Chelakkara Assembly also falls under the Alathur constituency. Alathur constituency is Palakkad and Thrissur. He has been competing from Alathur’s Chelakkara Assembly constituency, and has been winning seat every time. Last time, he won with a margin of 40,000 votes.

It is said that the “clean image” of Radhakrishnan even among the opposing party is what made CPM to chose him as the candidate. Notably, this is Radhakrishnan’s maiden entry to Lok Sabha.