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Veteran Congress leader K P Unnikrishnan, 90, passes away

Mar 3, 2026 - 02:36
Mar 3, 2026 - 02:41
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Veteran Congress leader K P Unnikrishnan, 90, passes away

K.P. Unnikrishnan, a veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister who represented the Vadakara constituency for three decades, died on Monday at a private hospital in Kozhikode. He was 90.

Unnikrishnan passed away at Aster MIMS Hospital while receiving treatment for age-related ailments, family and hospital officials said.

His death marks the end of an era for Kerala’s presence in national politics, where he was regarded as a formidable parliamentary voice and a key figure in the socialist movement within the Congress party.

A Six-Term Legacy

A journalist by profession before entering the electoral fray, Unnikrishnan’s political journey was defined by his long-standing dominance over the Vadakara Lok Sabha seat.

Parliamentary Tenure

He first secured the seat in 1971 and successfully defended it in five subsequent elections—1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, and 1991.

Cabinet Service

He reached the pinnacle of his administrative career under Prime Minister V.P. Singh, serving as the Union Minister for Telecommunications, Shipping, and Surface Transport from 1989 to 1990.

Historical Impact

During his ministerial tenure, he played a critical role in coordinating the historic airlift of over 170,000 Indians stranded in Kuwait during the Gulf War, often cited as the largest civilian evacuation in history.

Political Transitions

Unnikrishnan’s career was marked by shifting allegiances during the turbulent years of the Indian National Congress. 

Initially a member of the Praja Socialist Party during his student years, he joined the Congress in 1960 and became a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) two years later.

Though he was once a close confidante of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and worked alongside V.K. Krishna Menon, he eventually parted ways with her due to ideological differences.

This led him to join Congress (U) and later Congress (S), where he served as a national general secretary. He eventually returned to the parent Congress party in 1995.

Early Life and Education

Born on Sept. 20, 1936, in Coimbatore to E. Kunjikrishnan Nair, Unnikrishnan was educated at some of the region's most prestigious institutions. 

He attended Madras Christian College and Presidency College before completing his legal studies at Government Law College in Chennai.

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