Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader K.P. Unnikrishnan no more

Former Union Minister and elder Congress person K.P. Unnikrishnan passed distant successful the aboriginal hours of Tuesday (March 3, 2026). He was 89. Mr. Unnikrishnan had been undergoing attraction for age-related ailments astatine a backstage infirmary successful the metropolis for immoderate time. He is survived by his woman Amrita, and 2 daughters.

Mr. Unnikrishnan has the uncommon favoritism of representing 1 Lok Sabha Constituency for the longest play of clip successful Kerala's governmental history. He was the MP for Vadakara successful Kozhikode from 1971 to 1996, representing 3 governmental parties. He archetypal entered the Upper House of Parliament successful 1971 connected a Congress ticket. Mr. Unnikrishnan aboriginal continued his winning streak successful the 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, and 1991 elections arsenic well. However, helium was portion of the Congress (U) and the Congress (S) aft 1977. Though Mr. Unnikrishnan returned to the Congress successful 1995, helium could not triumph different word successful the 1996 polls erstwhile helium was defeated by O. Bharathan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Mr. Unnikrishnan besides served arsenic a Union Minister for Telecommunications, Shipping, and Surface Transport successful the V.P. Singh Cabinet from 1989 to 1990. During this time, he led the evacuation of implicit 1.5 lakh Indians, mostly Keralites, from Kuwait during the Gulf War. Despite the Cabinet advising against it, helium went to the hiding spot of Iraq’s past President Saddam Hussein and successfully negotiated their return.

Born into a household of state fighters successful Koyilandy successful Kozhikode connected September 20, 1936, Mr. Unnikrishnan was drawn into authorities rather aboriginal successful life. He was portion of the socialist watercourse of thought successful the Congress and a staunch protagonist of Indira Gandhi successful her earlier years successful power. However, helium parted ways with her aft the Emergency and pursuing differences of sentiment with Sanjay Gandhi.