P. K. Kunhalikutty
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 Constituency and former Member of Parliament from Malappuram Parliament Constituency of the Indian state of Kerala. He also serves as National General Secretary of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) from 2007. He was a member of Standing Committee on Railways, Government of India. Kunhalikutty was born at Oorakam in Malabar district, Madras State in 1951. He entered politics through Muslim Students Federation - MSF (the MSF), the student wing of Indian  Union Muslim League. He served as College Union Secretary at Farook College Students Union, Kozhikode. He subsequently served as Chairman of Malappuram Municipality at the age of 29 in 1980. Kunhalikutty was elected to the Kerala state Legislative Assembly for the first time from the Malappuram Constituency in 1982. He went on becoming Member of Legislative Assembly of Kerala for seven times between 1982 and 2016. He also served as Minister for Industries in several Kerala Legislative Assemblies (under Congress leaders K. Karunakaran, A. K. Antony and Oommen Chandy). Kunhalikutty served as General Secretary of Indian Union Muslim League of  Kerala State from 2003 - 2006 and from 2007 to 2011. Kunhalikutty is popularly known as "Kunjappa" among his supporters. He is known for his deep 'bonding' to United Democratic Front, the decades-old Congress-lead pre-poll alliance in Kerala. As per "Malayala Manorama" daily, "the persuasive charm" of Kunhalikutty is widely respected by his political peers and rivals. He is also known for his 'vast experience in crafting strategic moves' , and having 'weathered many a storm in his political career' . The "Outlook" magazine once described Kunhalikutty as "Indian Union Muslim League's backbone in Kerala politics." He is widely  regarded as the troubleshooter within United Democratic Front (Kerala). 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. He completed his secondary education from G. V. H. S. S Vengara. He has an under-graduate degree in Commerce from Sir Syed College, Thaliparamba. He was also educated at Farook College, Kozhikode. He is also a Post-Graduate Diploma holder in Business Management. Personal life. Kunhalikutty is married to K. M. Ummul Kulza and the couple have two  children named P.K. Hashique married to Tania Hashique and Lasitha P.K married to Kudal Abu Zulfeiq. He spends his spare time in vegetable cultivation at a plot near his residence and in ornamental fish farming.<ref</ref> The chairman of Koyenco group, P.P. Koya is brother in law of P.K. Kunhalikutty. Political career. Kunhalikutty is also the National General Secretary of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) from 2007. He was National Treasurer, Indian Union Muslim League. He is also serving presently as Director, "Chandrika" daily and Director, Muhammed Koya International Foundation. From May 2016 to April 2017, he served as Deputy  Leader of Opposition, Kerala Legislative Assembly. From May 2017 to January 2018, he was a member in Committee on Government Assurances, Government of India. 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 - MSF. He also served as Secretary, Farook College Students Union. He subsequently served as Chairman, Malappuram Municipality - at the age of 29 - in 1980. 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". Rise of Kunhalikutty in Indian Union Muslim League after the 1980 victory was later described media as "meteoric". Appointment in K. Karunakaran Ministry. Kunhalikutty served as Minister for Industries and Social Welfare from 1991 to 1995 in the K. Karunakaran Ministry (1991-95). The appointment in K. Karunakaran Ministry is often called as "the real break" in Kunhalikutty's political career. As per observers, the selection was an indication of senior leader K. Karunakaran's regard for the young League politician. Tenure in Kerala Legislative Assembly. Kunhalikutty has been elected to Kerala  Legislative Assembly seven times, in 1982 and 1987, contesting from Malappuram Constituency, and in 1991, 1996 and 2001, from Kuttippuram Constituency and in 2011 and 2016 from Vengara Constituency. In the 2006 Left Democratic Front wave in Kerala, Kunhalikutty was defeated by K.T. Jaleel in Kuttippuram Constituency. Career as Minister for Industries. 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. In 2011 he was the most wealthiest member in the cabinet of Oommen Chandy.Kunhalikutty served as General Secretary, Kerala State, Indian Union Muslim League from 2003 - 2006 and 2007 to 2011. Member of Parliament. Kunhalikutty got elected as Member of Parliament from Malappuram (Lok Sabha constituency) in 2017 in a bye-election. The election was a result of the death of former Union Minister and senior IUML leader E. Ahamed. Kunhalikutty won from all the seven Assembly constituencies of the Parliament Constituency. He was reelected to Malappuram during the 2019 General Elections. In February 2021, he resigned  from the Lok Sabha to contest the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election. Currently he is the MLA of Vengara state constituency of Kerala. 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. A closure report in the case was filed in the trial court later by the Special Investigation Team. There were severe allegation levelled in relation with this case including death of two girls in Kozhikode. The Supreme Court of India had in 2016 dismissed a petition from the opposition communists seeking  a federal probe into the case. There were allegations in relations with 2020 Kerala gold smuggling case that one of the key accused, K.T. Ramees that he is a relative of P.K. Kunhalikutty. He skipped Lok Sabha session and was attending a marriage in Dubai when parliamentary proceedings over Triple Talaq abolition bill was taking place. 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. The plea had mention about investments made into Seashore Rolling  Engineering Company owned by son of P.K. Kunhalikutty. The plea was dismissed by the VACB court due to inadequate evidences to support the claim.