Six-Time MP KP Unnikrishnan Passes Away at 89: A Political Era Ends

Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister K. P. Unnikrishnan passed away at the age of 89 in Kozhikode, Kerala. According to family sources he died while undergoing treatment for age related issues at a private hospital. He was a six time Member of Parliament from Vadakara. He was key political figure in the 1980s and 1990s. Unnikrishnan played an influential role in national politics, including serving in the V. P. Singh Cabinet.

Six Time Lok Sabha MP from Vadakara

• Elected to the Lok Sabha six consecutive times from Vadakara.
• First elected in 1971 as a Congress candidate.
• Re elected in 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, and 1991.
• Served on the Public Accounts Committee (1980-82).
• Leader of Congress (Secular) in Parliament (1981-84).
• His repeated victories reflected strong grassroots support in Kerala.

Role in the V P Singh Cabinet and Gulf War Evacuation

• Served as Union Minister for Surface Transport and Communications (1989-90).
• Oversaw evacuation of Indians during the Gulf War crisis.
• Contributed to strengthening transport and communication systems.
• Played a key role during a turbulent period in global geopolitics.
• His tenure in the V P Singh Cabinet remains one of the most defining phases of his career.

Political Journey: From Socialist Roots to Congress Leadership

• Began professional life as a journalist.
• Associated with the Socialist Party and later the Praja Socialist Party.
• Joined the Indian National Congress in the 1960s.
• Became a member of the All India Congress Committee in 1962.
• Later associated with Congress (U) and Congress (S) before returning to Congress in 1995.
• Unnikrishnan was known as a close associate of V. K. Krishna Menon and was once regarded as a trusted confidant of Indira Gandhi.

Education and Early Life

• Born on September 20, 1936.
• Studied at Madras Christian College.
• Completed his law degree in Chennai.
• Entered public life through journalism before transitioning to politics.
• His educational background and ideological grounding shaped his parliamentary contributions.

Question

Q. KP Unnikrishnan served as Union Minister in which Prime Minister’s Cabinet?

A. Rajiv Gandhi
B. V P Singh
C. P V Narasimha Rao
D. Atal Bihari Vajpayee