Friday, December 23, 2011:
Former Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Kerala K. Karunakaran was remembered on his first death anniversary on Friday.
K. Karunakaran born July 5, 1918. For most part of his political career, he has been with Indian National Congress. He is a former Chief Minister of Kerala, Home minister of Government of Kerala, and Minister for Industries of Government of India. He is affectionately called “Leader” by Congress activists.
Considered a close lieutenant of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, the four-time former Kerala chief minister has been credited with creating in the 1970s a rainbow coalition - the UDF.
Initiated in politics in 1935 at the age of 19 when he became a member of the state Congress led by M Narayana Menon, Karunakaran, often criticized for apparent nepotism, and first became chief minister on March 25, 1977.
Karunakaran, who has proved for decades that Kerala politics can still be his playing field, has often been accused of turning senile in his later years but he was not ready to say goodbye to his political career spanning over seven decades.
Even when he was in his late eighties, his political maneuvering was just as dexterous, mental agility just as remarkable and wit and sarcasm just as biting as ever. An inscrutable political leader known for his steadfast devotion to Lord Krishna, the presiding deity at the famed Guruvayoor temple in Kerala, Karunakaran has always been a wily political player and, through sheer hard work and lots of luck, has donned a variety of roles — as trade union leader, the Opposition leader, a union minister or the chief minister.
He has been a Congress(I) father figure who built the party from a group of nine MLAs in 1967 through two divisions in 1969 and 1978 to a strength of 57 in the 1991 Congress(I)-led UDF Ministry. The big break in his career came in 1967 with the party choosing him to lead the nine-member Congress bloc after the party was humbled by the LDF.
When his colleagues pushed him out of power while he was serving as chief minister for the fourth time, it rankled him no end. The feeling of being dispossessed has led him to seek revenge at every opportunity ever inviting criticism from his opponents accusing him of trying to wreck the Congress in Kerala.
Karunakaran has been the Chief Minister of Kerala four times but completed his full five year term only once from 1982 to 1987. All the four state ministries under him were however tainted with allegations of nepotism and corruption.
A key accused in palmolein import scam which has also sucked in the current Central Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas, Karunakaran as chief minister had decided to import 15,000 tonnes of palm oil at 405 USD per tonne from a Singapore-based firm whereas the prevailing market price was 392 USD per tonne.
He took charge as Chief Minister for the first time on March 25, 1977. However he tendered his resignation within a month immediately following certain references by the Kerala High Court in what came to be known as Rajan case.
Rajan, an engineering student in Calicut who led anti-Emergency protests, was allegedly killed by the police at Kakkayam police camp. Karunakaran was the Home Minister from 1971 to 1977 in the Ministry headed by C Achutha Menon.
Karunakaran took charge as Chief Minister again on December 28, 1981. However, this ministry did not last long. He resigned on March 17, 1982 following the withdrawal of support by a member of the Kerala Congress (M). Mid-term elections to the 7th Kerala Legislative Assembly was held on May 19, 1982.
The Ministry with Karunakaran as Chief Minister assumed office on May 24, 1982 and continued till 1987. On June 24, 1991, Karunakaran took charge again as Chief Minister of Kerala for the fourth term, and resigned on March 16, 1995, making way for his bete noire Antony to take up Chief Ministership.
After Antony was elected as chief minister in 2001, Karunakaran was on the warpath with the Government led by his own party and the party high command. After a series of unsuccessful attempts to regain supremacy in the Kerala wing of the Congress, the dissidents led by him landed up in the bad books of the Congress high command.
K. Karunakaran born July 5, 1918. For most part of his political career, he has been with Indian National Congress. He is a former Chief Minister of Kerala, Home minister of Government of Kerala, and Minister for Industries of Government of India. He is affectionately called “Leader” by Congress activists.
The leader had a close relationship with Ramanilayam, Town Hall and Thekkinkadu Maidan in the city. He started his political career as a municipal councillor from Chembukkavu division which included Town Hall.
The state government had already taken a decision to name Thrissur Town Hall after him and also to erect his statue on the premises of Town Hall. An assembly meeting held on November 16 had set aside Rs 30lakh for the purpose.
