P._K._Kunhalikutty

P. K. Kunhalikutty

P. K. Kunhalikutty

Indian politician (born 1951)

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]

Quick Facts Deputy Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly, Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly ...

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]

Background and career

P. K. Kunhalikutty was born on 1 June 1951 at Oorakam, Melmuri in present-day Malappuram District as the son of Pandikkadavath Mohamed Haji and K. P. Fathima Kutty.[3] He completed his secondary education from G. V. H. S. S. Vengara. He has an under-graduate degree in commerce from Sir Syed College, Taliparamba. He was also educated at Farook College, Kozhikode.[3] He is also a Post-Graduate Diploma holder in Business Management.[1][2]

Personal life

Kunhalikutty is married to K. M. Ummul Kulza[3] and the couple have two children.[1][2] He spends his spare time in vegetable cultivation at a plot near his residence and in ornamental fish farming.[8]

The chairman of Koyenco Group, P. P. Koya, is brother-in-law of P. K. Kunhalikutty.[9]

Political career

Kunhalikutty is also the National General Secretary of Indian Union Muslim League, (IUML).[1][2] He earlier served as Kerala State General Secretary, Indian Union Muslim League from 2003 - 2006 and 2007 - 2011.[3] He was National Treasurer, Indian Union Muslim League.[2]

He is also serving presently as Director, Chandrika daily and Director, Muhammed Koya International Foundation.[1][2] From May 2016 to April 2017, he served as Deputy Leader of Opposition, Kerala Legislative Assembly.[3]

1980 Malappuram Municipality chairman

Kunhalikutty entered politics through Muslim Students Federation (the MSF), the student wing of Indian Union Muslim League. He later became State Treasurer, Muslim Students Federation. He also served as Secretary, Farook College Students Union.[3]

He subsequently served as chairman, Malappuram Municipality, at the age of 29, in 1980.[1][2] The Indian Express later wrote, "he became the blue-eyed boy of the [respected] Panakkad Thangal family after displaying political acumen and charisma upon being elected Malappuram Municipality chairman in 1980".[5] Rise of Kunhalikutty in Indian Union Muslim League after the 1980 victory was later described by the media as "meteoric".[4]

Tenures in Kerala Legislative Assembly

Kunhalikutty has been elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly eight times, in 1982 and 1987, contesting from Malappuram Assembly Constituency, and in 1991, 1996 and 2001, from Kuttippuram Constituency and in 2011, 2016 and 2021 from Vengara Constituency.[3] In the 2006 Left Democratic Front wave in Kerala, Kunhalikutty was defeated by K.T. Jaleel in Kuttippuram Constituency.[4]

Career as Minister for Industries

Kunhalikutty served as Minister for Industries and Social Welfare from 1991 to 1995 in the K. Karunakaran Ministry (1991–95).[5] As per observers, the selection was an indication of senior leader K. Karunakaran's regard for the "young League politician".[4]

Kunhalikutty went on to serve as Minister for Industries and Municipalities from 1995 to 1996, and Minister for Industries, IT and Social Welfare from 2001 to 2004, in two A. K. Antony Ministries and Minister for Industries, IT and Social Welfare, from 2004 to 2005 in the Oommen Chandy Ministry.[1][2] In 2011 he was the wealthiest member in the cabinet of Oommen Chandy[10] and served as Minister for the remarkable IT Project Akshaya project in 2002[11]

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P. K. Kunhalikutty with Oommen Chandy (2012)

Member of Parliament

Kunhalikutty got elected as Member of Parliament from Malappuram Parliamentary Constituency in 2017 in a by-election.[12] The election was a result of the death of former Minister of State for External Affairs and senior IUML leader E. Ahamed. Kunhalikutty won from all the seven Assembly constituencies of the Parliament Constituency.[13] He was re-elected to Malappuram during the 2019 general elections.[14]

He was a member of Standing Committee on Railways, Government of India.[3] From May 2017 to January 2018, he was a member in Committee on Government Assurances, Government of India.[3]

Return to Legislative Assembly

In February 2021, Kunhalikutty resigned from the Lok Sabha to contest the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election.[14] He is currently a Member of Legislative Assembly from Vengara Assembly Constituency.

P. K. Kunhalikutty (third from right) with the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at the 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (2013) in Kochi

Controversies

P. K. Kunhalikutty experienced electoral defeat only in 2006 Kerala state assembly elections due to his involvement in the 1997 Ice cream parlour sex scandal.[15] A closure report in the case was filed in the trial court later by the Special Investigation Team. There were severe allegations levelled in relation to this case including death of two girls in Kozhikode.[16] The Supreme Court of India had in 2016 dismissed a petition from the opposition communists seeking a federal probe into the case.[17]

There were allegations in relation to 2020 Kerala gold smuggling case that one of the key accused, K.T. Ramees is a relative of P.K. Kunhalikutty.[18][19]

He skipped Lok Sabha session and was attending a marriage in Dubai when parliamentary proceedings over Triple Talaq abolition bill were taking place.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]

In 2011, there was plea before Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau Court, Thrissur made by Andul Aziz from National Secular Conference to undertake a probe into wealth amassed by P.K. Kunhalikutty and his relatives.[42] The plea had mention about investments made into Seashore Rolling Engineering Company owned by son of P.K. Kunhalikutty.[43] The plea was dismissed by the VACB court due to inadequate evidences to support the claim.[44]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Minister for Industries and Information Technology. Kerala.gov.in. Retrieved on 23 July 2015.
  2. [2]
    Members – Kerala Legislature Archived 16 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Niyamasabha.org. Retrieved on 23 July 2015.
  3. [3]
    "Members : Lok Sabha". 164.100.47.194. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  4. [4]
    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. [5]
    "IUML's warhorse saddles up for national sojourn". The New Indian Express. 17 April 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019.
  6. [6]
    "E. Ahamed's Daughter Fouzia Emerges As A Political Face In Kerala's Misogynistic Muslim League". Outlook (India). Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. [7]
    "Explained: The importance of Kunhalikutty in Kerala Assembly elections". The Indian Express. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  8. [8]
    "Kunhalikutty Engane Kunjappayayi? Chila Malappuram Kauthuka Kazhchakal". Malayala Manorama. 10 April 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019.
  9. [9]
    Damodaran, Harish (25 November 2018). INDIA'S NEW CAPITALISTS: Caste, Business, and Industry in a Modern Nation. Hachette India. ISBN 978-93-5195-280-0.
  10. [10]
    Devasia, T. K. "Kunhalikutty is the richest in Kerala cabinet". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  11. [11]
    "Kerala embarks on mass computer literacy drive". The Times of India. 1 June 2003. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  12. [12]
    Malappuram Election Result
  13. [13]
    "Muslim League wins big to retain Malappuram Lok Sabha seat". The Hindu Business Line. Press Trust of India. 17 April 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019.
  14. [14]
    "IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty resigns as MP to contest Kerala Assembly polls". The News Minute. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  15. [15]
    Radhakrishnan, M. G. (15 November 2004). "8-year-old sex scandal haunts Kerala minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, rocks govt". India Today. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  16. [16]
    "Plea filed for fresh probe into girls' death". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  17. [17]
    "Mathrubhumi". Archived from the original on 24 May 2020.
  18. [18]
    M.K, Nidheesh (12 July 2020). "Malappuram-based businessman in customs custody over Kerala gold smuggling case". mint. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  19. [19]
    "NIA Arrests PK Kunhalikutty's Kin Rameez in Gold Smuggling Case; Chakkiri Ahmed Also A Relative". Deshabhimani. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  20. [20]
    "Kunhalikutty slammed for skipping talaq voting". The Times of India. 29 December 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  21. [21]
    Emmanuel, Gladwin (28 December 2018). "P K Kunhalikutty skips Parliament debate, stirs controversy". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  22. [22]
    "Kunhalikutty has Rs 300 crore worth of black money deposit in coop bank: Jaleel". newindianexpress.com. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  23. [23]
    "Kunhalikutty has Rs 300 crore worth of black money deposit in malappuram bank". manorama.com. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  24. [24]
    "Kunhalikutty betrayed Thangal for 'four silver coins': KT Jaleel". mathrubhumi.com. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  25. [25]
    "/kunhalikutty siphoned off crores from co-op-bank in malappuram". manorama.com. 18 August 2021.
  26. [26]
    "IUML leader-turned-CPM fellow traveller K T Jaleel takes sweet revenge". deccanchronicle.com. 19 August 2021.
  27. [27]
    "ED should summon Kunhalikutty, not Thangal: KT Jaleel". newindianexpress.com. 21 August 2021.
  28. [28]
    "P K Kunhalikutty laundered money, says Kerala former minister". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 21 August 2021.
  29. [29]
    "kt jaleel against pk kunhalikutty". mangalam.com (in Malayalam). 22 August 2021.
  30. [30]
    "kt Jaleel against pk Kunhalikutty". www.deshabhimani.com (in Malayalam). 24 August 2021.
  31. [31]
    "kt Jaleel on iuml pk Kunhalikutty". manoramanews.com (in Malayalam). 24 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  32. [32]
    "kt jaleel to pk kunhalikutty sons nri investment in co-operative bank". madhyamam.com (in Malayalam). 24 August 2021.
  33. [33]
    "money laundering scandal". manorama.com (in Malayalam). 24 August 2021.
  34. [34]
    "kunhalikutty has rs 300 crore value of black cash deposit". canadianpathram.com (in Malayalam). 24 August 2021.
  35. [35]
    "kt jaleel arrived enforcement directorate". mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 2 September 2021.
  36. [36]
    "kt jaleel at ed office". manorama (in Malayalam). 2 September 2021.
  37. [37]
    "malappuram ar nagar bank case". janmabhumi.in (in Malayalam). 2 September 2021.
  38. [38]
    "kt jaleel at ed office". tatwamayinews.com (in Malayalam). 2 September 2021.
  39. [39]
    "money laundering ed demanded kt jalil". sirajlive.com (in Malayalam). 2 September 2021.
  40. [40]
    "kt jaleel pk kunjalikkutty ed chandrika fund fraud". doolnews.com (in Malayalam). 2 September 2021.
  41. [41]
    "Jaleel reaches ED office, says Kunhalikutty will be quizzed on Thursday". newindianexpress.com. 4 September 2021.
  42. [42]
    "Inquiry into complaints on Kunhalikutty begins". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  43. [43]
    "Court rejects plea for investigation into Kerala industries minister". Retrieved 26 February 2021 – via PressReader.
  44. [44]
    "Plea against Kunhalikutty rejected". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
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