Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Biography

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is one of the most prominent and influential political leaders from Kerala belonging to Communist party. Currently he is CPI (M) Polit Bureau Member and CPI (M) Parliamentary Party Deputy Leader. He has served many high designated positions including Minister for Home, Vigilance and Tourism during 12th Kerala State Legislative Assembly. Earlier he has served as Deputy Leader of Opposition and Chairman of Committee on Public Accounts, Kerala Legislative Assembly. On 10 July 2013, The High Court demanded a vigilance investigation against Kodiyeri for corruptions regarding funds of 3 crore Rupees taken from the State Treasury.

Balakrishnan was born on 16 November 1953 at a village named Kodiyeri, Kannur. Later his native place got added to his name as tag and he came to be popularly known as Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. He studied in Kodiyeri Junior Basic School & Onion High School. His graduation was done at Thiruvananthapuram University College. He entered politics through student’s wing in the year 1970. He was Secretary of the Kerala State Committee of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and its All India Joint Secretary between 1973 and 1979. He was imprisoned for 16 months during the Emergency period of 1975 during Indira Gandhi’s government.

He became Kannur District President of Democratic Youth Federation of India in the year 1980 and served the term for more than 2 years till 1982. Gradually he emerged as a powerful leader of Communist party in Kerala. He has been elected to Kerala State Assembly in four terms - 1982, 1987, 2001 and 2006. He is married and has two children. As he is a true believer of communism, he is an atheist.

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Updated: February 13, 2014