P. K. Kunhalikutty

P. K. Kunhalikutty
P. K. Kunhalikutty in January 2016
Deputy Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 May 2021
Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 May 2021
Preceded byK. N. A. Khader
ConstituencyVengara
In office
2011–2017
Preceded byK. N. A. Khader
Succeeded byK. N. A. Khader
ConstituencyVengara
In office
1991–2006
Succeeded byK. T. Jaleel
ConstituencyKuttippuram
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
17 July 2017 – 3 February 2021
Preceded byE. Ahamed
Succeeded byM. P. Abdussamad Samadani
ConstituencyMalappuram
Cabinet Minister, Government of Kerala
In office
23 May 2011 – 19 May 2016
GovernorR. S. Gavai
M. O. H. Farook
H. R. Bhardwaj
Nikhil Kumar
Chief MinisterOommen Chandy
Ministry and Departments
  • Industries
  • IT
  • Trade & Commerce
  • Mining & Geology
  • Wakf & Haj Affairs
In office
31 August 2004 – 12 May 2006
GovernorR. L. Bhatia
Chief MinisterOommen Chandy
Ministry and Departments
In office
22 March 1995 – 9 May 1996
GovernorB. Rachaiah
P. Shiv Shankar
Khurshed Alam Khan
Chief MinisterA. K. Antony
Ministry and Departments
Personal details
Born (1951-06-01) 1 June 1951 (age 73)
Oorakam, Madras State, India (present-day Malappuram district, Kerala, India)
Nationality Indian
Political partyIndian Union Muslim League
Children2
Residence(s)Panakkad, Malappuram, Kerala
Websitewww.kerala.gov.in

P. K. Kunhalikutty (born 1 June 1951 as Pandikkadavath Kunhalikutty) is an Indian politician and social worker who is the present Member of Legislative Assembly from Vengara Assembly Constituency in Kerala. He also serves as National General Secretary of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Deputy Leader of opposition in Kerala Leglative Assembly.[1][2]

Kunhalikutty was born at Oorakam in Malabar district, Madras State in 1951. He entered public life through students and college union politics and served as Chairman of Malappuram Municipality at the age of 29 in 1980.[1][2] He was elected to the Kerala state Legislative Assembly for the first time from the Malappuram Constituency in 1982.[1][2] He went on to become Member of Legislative Assembly of Kerala eight times between 1982 and 2021. He also served as Minister for Industries in several Kerala Legislative Assemblies (under Congress leaders K. Karunakaran, A. K. Antony and Oommen Chandy).[1][2] Kunhalikutty served as Kerala State General Secretary of Indian Union Muslim League from 2003 - 2006 and from 2007 - 2011.[3]

Kunhalikutty is popularly known as "Kunjappa" among his supporters.[4] He is known for his deep 'bonding' to United Democratic Front, the decades-old Congress-led pre-poll alliance in Kerala.[4] As per Malayala Manorama daily, "the persuasive charm" of Kunhalikutty is widely respected by his political peers and rivals.[4] He is also known for his 'vast experience in crafting strategic moves', and having 'weathered many a storm in his political career' .[5] The Outlook magazine once described Kunhalikutty as "Indian Union Muslim League's backbone in Kerala politics."[6][7]

  1. ^ a b c d Minister for Industries and Information Technology. Kerala.gov.in. Retrieved on 23 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d Members – Kerala Legislature Archived 16 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Niyamasabha.org. Retrieved on 23 July 2015.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Udayabhanu, Prem (17 April 2017). "A sneak peek at the life and times of 'Kunjappa'". Malayala Manorama. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "E. Ahamed's Daughter Fouzia Emerges As A Political Face In Kerala's Misogynistic Muslim League". Outlook (India). 27 January 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Explained: The importance of Kunhalikutty in Kerala Assembly elections". The Indian Express. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.