P.J._Joseph

P. J. Joseph

P. J. Joseph

Indian politician (born 1941)

Not to be confused with P. C. Joseph or K. C. Joseph (Irikkur politician).

Palathinal Joseph Joseph (born 10 June 1941) is an Indian politician from Kerala Congress serving as the Member of the Legislative Assembly from Thodupuzha Assembly Constituency in Kerala.[1]

Quick Facts Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Preceded by ...
In this Indian name, the name Palathinal Joseph is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Joseph.

A former cabinet minister, Joseph entered Kerala politics through Kerala Congress in 1968.[2]

Early life

P. J. Joseph was born on 10 June 1941 in a Syro-Malabar Nasrani family to Palathinal Joseph and Annamma at Purapuzha in Idukki District in central Kerala.[3]

He married Dr. Santha Joseph (died 2023), retired as Additional Director, Kerala Health Department, on 15 September 1971. The couple has four children, three sons and one daughter, named as Er.Apu John Joseph, Dr. Anu Yamuna, Antony Joseph and the late Jomon Joseph.[4] Jomon Joseph, the youngest, suffered from Down's Syndrome, and died due to a massive heart attack in 2020 aged 34.

Political career

Joseph entered Kerala politics through Kerala Congress in 1968.[2]

P. J. Joseph contested and won his first election from Thodupuzha to the Kerala legislative assembly. He won these elections on ten occasions (1970, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1996, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021).[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] He held various ministerial positions within the Government of Kerala:[14]

As Home Minister (1978)

Joseph's first time as a Minister was in 1978 as Home Minister in A. K. Antony's ministry. He served this role for nearly 8 months. He resigned the position for his colleague K.M Mani.

As Revenue minister (1981-1987)

Since 1981 Joseph became Revenue minister in K. Karunakaran's ministry. Joseph was Revenue minister between 1981 and 1982 and 1982–1987.

As Education minister (1996-2001)

In E. K. Nayanar's ministry between (1996 and 2001) Joseph was Education minister. He is instrumental in delinking Pre Degree from Colleges and merged with School Education as +2.

PWD minister (2006-2010)

He was short-term PWD minister in V. S. Achuthanandan's ministry in 2006 and 2010. He resigned twice. The first time he was accused of misbehaviour with a lady co-passenger. He was acquitted by the court. The second time was for leaving Left Democratic Front for united Kerala congress. It was after 23 years, Joseph's party again merged with Kerala Congress (M) and an alliance member of United Democratic Front (UDF).

Kerala Congress (Joseph)

In 1979 he parted ways with Kerala congress leader K. M. Mani to form a Kerala Congress (Joseph) new party. However in 1985 Kerala congress leaders K. M. Mani (from Kerala Congress (M)), P. J. Joseph from Kerala Congress (Joseph), R. Balakrishna Pillai (from Kerala Congress (B)) and their parties merged forming the united Kerala Congress. This party split in 1987. P. J. Joseph continued in United Democratic Front (UDF) till 1989. He contested the Lok Sabha at Muvattupuzha and Idukki in 1989 and 1991, but was unsuccessful. Kerala Congress (Joseph) issue raised in Muvattupuzha Lok Sabha seat made him leave the alliance and join LDF. Since 1991 Joseph's party became part of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) as an alliance.

In 2010, after 23 years, Joseph's party again merged with Kerala Congress (M) and an alliance member of United Democratic Front (UDF).

On 30 April 2010, Joseph resigned from the LDF government and declared his party's merger with K. M. Mani's party. After UDF's win in Kerala Legislative Assembly's election in 2011, Oommen Chandy became Chief Minister of Kerala. Joseph was appointed minister for the 7th time, now with the portfolio of irrigation; he completed his term in 2016.[15]

Chairman Of Kerala Congress

A power struggle erupted in the party between Jose K. Mani faction and P. J. Joseph fraction. The Election Commission intervened and it ruled in favor of Jose K Mani. Later, the faction led by P.J Joseph merged with Kerala Congress.

On April 27 an online meeting was convened by the party leadership in Thodupuzha and P.J Joseph was chosen as party chairman.[16]

Controversies

Joseph resigned from the Kerala Cabinet on 4 September 2006 as he was accused of misbehaviour with a lady co-passenger on a Kingfisher flight. He was acquitted by court on 11 May 2009 due to insufficient evidence.[17][18][19]

He instituted the Gandhian Studies Centre and the Gandhi Centre for Sustainable Development.[20][21]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Members - Kerala Legislature". www.niyamasabha.org. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  2. [2]
    "Kerala State - Everything about Kerala".
  3. [3]
    "Members - Kerala Legislature".
  4. [4]
    "PJ Joseph Son Death: Congress leader PJ Joseph's younger son dies of heart attack | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  5. [5]
    http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_4.htm 4th KLA
  6. [6]
    http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_5.htm 5th KLA
  7. [7]
    http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_6.htm 6th KLA
  8. [8]
    http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_7.htm 7th KLA
  9. [9]
    http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_8.htm 8th KLA
  10. [10]
    http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_10.htm 10th KLA
  11. [11]
    http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_12.htm 12th KLA
  12. [12]
    http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_13.htm 13th KLA
  13. [13]
    http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_14.htm 14th KLA
  14. [14]
    http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/13kla/members/p_j_joseph.htm P. J. Joseph MLA
  15. [15]
    "Kerala Congress(J) splits, PJ Joseph resigns". Rediff. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  16. [16]
    "പി.ജെ.ജോസഫ് കേരള കോൺഗ്രസ് ചെയർമാൻ" (in Malayalam).
  17. [17]
    Scaria, Joe A. "Joseph acquitted in misbehaviour case". The Economic Times. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  18. [18]
    "Joseph steps down; Kuruvilla named new Kerala Congress(J) Minister". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 5 September 2006. Archived from the original on 13 March 2007.
  19. [19]
    Suchithra, shakeela. "Allegations against P J Joseph : Biju Ramesh reveals more on bar scam". youtube.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  20. [20]
    "Adopt organic farming methods". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 7 February 2006. Archived from the original on 13 March 2007.
  21. [21]
    "Declare Kerala an organic farming State: Joseph". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 31 October 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012.
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