K Karunakaran was one of the veteran leaders of Congress in Kerala. Was the Chief Minister of Kerala four times. His son K Muraleedharan is a Congress MLA, was a minister in the Kerala government and was also the state Congress president. At the same time, Karunakaran’s daughter Padmaja Venugopal is now in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Interestingly, Padmaja Venugopal is getting the support of the same Suresh Gopi against whom she had contested the assembly elections in 2021. Padmaja Venugopal, who has accused Congress of neglect, is hopeful that this time she will be able to break her losing streak.
Padmaja Venugopal, who lost the assembly elections in 2016 and 2021, was not happy with the leadership of Kerala Congress. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he alleged that neither is he getting any recognition, nor is he being treated properly, nor is the Congress leadership listening to him. It was good for him that Suresh Gopi, who had been contesting elections from this seat, became a Lok Sabha MP in 2024. Now BJP also feels that it can bet on Padmaja Venugopal to end its drought on this seat. Let us tell you that similarly, Anil Antony, son of former Kerala CM AK Antony, has also joined BJP.
Karunakaran family story
Karunakaran, who had four brothers and one sister, was at number three. He had two elder brothers and a sister and a younger brother. Sister died at the age of just 5 years. Karunakaran Marar later defeated his caste in his name and became famous as K Karunakaran. Karunakaran, who started his political career in 1937, worked with the leaders of Kerala who were active in the freedom struggle. Later he joined Congress and became active in trade union activities.
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K Karunakaran has a son K Muraleedharan and daughter Padmaja Venugopal. After his father, son K Muraleedharan took over the political legacy. He was a minister in AK Antony’s Kerala government (in 2004). Elected Lok Sabha MP from Kozhikode twice and MP from Vatakara from 2019 to 2024. He also became MLA from Kerala several times. In 2024, he was fielded from Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in Kerala but he finished third after BJP’s Suresh Gopi and CPI’s Sunil Kumar. Muraleedharan, who left Congress in 2005 and formed a new party, returned to Congress in 2011.
Padmaja Venugopal is the daughter of former Kerala CM K Karunakaran and sister of Muraleedharan. Padmaja, daughter of this family which has been associated with Congress for decades, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Padmaja, who lost her first election in 2004, has also lost the assembly elections in 2016 and 2016. He left Congress at the time of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There is talk that now she can contest elections on BJP ticket from the same Thrissur Assembly seat from where she has lost the elections twice.
Who was K Karunakaran?
K Karunakaran, born in 1918, died on 23 December 2010. He was recognized as a leader who founded the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala. Apart from being active in Kerala politics, he was also a minister in the central government. Karunakaran, who was close to first Indira Gandhi and then Rajiv Gandhi, had helped PV Narasimha Rao to reach the post of Prime Minister.
Became CM 4 times, completed tenure once
K Karunakaran became the Chief Minister of Kerala for the first time in the year 1977. After the elections of the 5th Assembly of the state, he was sworn in on 25 March 1977 but within 33 days the Chief Minister was changed. After him AK Antony became the CM of Kerala for the first time. Then in five years, 4 CMs were formed and finally President’s rule was imposed. In this, the number of Vasudevan Nair and CH Mohammed Koya also came. When the next elections were held, CPM won and EK Nayanar became the CM.
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Nayanar’s government fell within a year and President’s rule remained in force for 68 days. Again Karunakaran’s luck ran out and on 28 December 1981, he took oath as Chief Minister for the second time. The government fell in just 79 days and President’s rule was imposed again. Ultimately the Assembly was dissolved and elections were held for the 7th Assembly.
After the elections, Congress formed the government on its own and Karunakaran, who took oath on 24 May 1982, ran the government for five years. When elections were held in 1987, the Left won and EK Nayanar again became the Chief Minister. Congress won again in 1991 and Karunakaran became Chief Minister for the fourth time. This time again he had to step down at the end of his tenure and AK Antony was made the Chief Minister. However, Congress did not benefit from this and the Left made a comeback again.
However, this short tenure gave an opportunity to Antony. In 2001, when Congress won again, AK Antony became the CM of Kerala for the third time. At the end of his tenure, Oman Chandy got a chance and he also remained the Chief Minister for 1 year and 260 days. He also became the Chief Minister of Kerala from 2011 to 2016.
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