IDEOLOGY
Was inducted into the socialist movement by the legendary Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan at the tender age of 15. Actively involved in politics since then and is a dominating presence in the public life of Kerala.
While leaving for studies abroad belonged to the Praja Socialist Party. On return from US, inspired by the ideals of Ram Manohar Lohia, joined Socialist Party. Later joined Samyukta Socialist Party and afterwards became its All India Treasurer with George Fernandes as President, Karpoori Thakur and Madhu Limaye were close associates. Elected as the State Secretary of the Kerala Unit of the Socialist Party and also as one of the All India Secretaries of the erstwhile Socialist Party. Was the Convener of the Opposition Co-ordination Committee in Kerala State after Azheekodan Raghavan. Was the Vice President of the erstwhile Janata Party, Kerala State Committee and acted as its President for a while.
A champion of the underprivileged he is actively associated with the Trade Union Movement. During the emergency in 1974, went underground for 8-9 months on the advice of A.K.G. He was declared an absconder, and the Government confiscated all properties. Arrested in Mysuru, was lodged in Kannur Central Jail. Other political detainees included Syed Ummer Bafakhi Thangal, Cheriya Mammu Keyi, Imbichi Koya , K. Chandrasekharan, Abu Saheb, P.M. Aboobacker, M.V. Raghavan, Pinarayi Vijayan and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.
He was elected to the Kerala Assembly from the Kalpetta constituency in 1987 and was a member till 1991. Created history by signing an order banning felling of tress from forest area and when pressure mounted for withdrawal of the order, he resigned as Minister of Forests, within 48 hours.
During his several decades long service as a public person has had the opportunity to either know or work with many eminent personalities. A partial list would include: Ram Manohar Lohia, AKG, Jayaprakash Narayan, K.R. Narayan, Chandrasekhar, V.P. Singh, I.K. Gujral, Vajpayee, Deve Gowda, Krishna Kanth, S.M. Joshi (Chairman of Socialist Party), Rabi Rai (membership in SP was given to Veerendra Kumar by Rai, in his capacity as party Secretary), Maniram Bagri (speaker), G. Murahari (Dy. Speaker of Lok Sabha), N.G. Goray, Madhu Dandavate, George Fernandes, Mrinal Gore, Premila Dandavate, Madhu Limaye, Ugra Sen, Ramananda Tiwari, U.R. Anantamurthy, EMS, K. Karunakaran, V.S. Achuthanandan, E.K. Nayanar, Gouri Amma, K.M. Mani, Gopal Gowda, Mulayam Singh, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Sharad Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan, Raj Narain, Mama Baleswar Dayal, Prem Bhasin, Ramakrishna Hegde, Arjun Singh Badoria, Peter Alvares, , S. Ventatram, Nallasivam, Badri Vishal Pitti, P.S. Chinnadurai, J.H. Patel, Dilip Chakravarthy, Biman Mitra, Arangil Sreedharan, P.M. Kunhiraman Nambiar, P.R. Kurup, Karunakaran Nambiar, P. Viswambharan, Snehalata Reddy, Pattabi Rama Reddy, Surendra Mohan, Lawrence Fernandes, K.K. Abu, Kunhirama Kurup, P.K. Sankarankutty, C.G.K. Reddy, Nanjundaswamy, PVG Raju, Saraswathi Ammal, Alamelu Ammal, Ram Sevak Yadav.
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