| V.M. Sudheeran | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 May 1948 |
| Citizenship | India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Profession | Politician Social Worker |
V. M. Sudheeran (born 26 May 1948), The former Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly and Health Minister, is an active social and political leader in Kerala and an active member of the Indian National Congress. He was born to V. S. Mama and Girija at a small village named Padiyam in Anthicad Panchayat of Thrissur district in Kerala. He was a Member of Parliament from the constituency of Alapuzha four times and a Member of Legislative Assembly from 1980-1996.He was elected to Kerala State Assembly many times from Manalur Constituency.
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He started his political career through the Kerala Students Union (KSU), which he served as President from 1971 to 1973. He was elected as the President of the State Youth Congress in 1975 and continued in the position till 1977. He was elected to the 6th Lok Sabha in 1977 from Alapuzha. In 1980, he contested in the Kearala State Election and became a member of the Legislative Assembly. He would remain so until 1996. He served as the Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly from 1985 to 1987. In 1995, he was appointed Health Minister under Chief Minister A. K. Antony. In 1996, he sought election to the 11th Lok Sabha from Alapuzha and won again. He was re-elected from the same contituency again in 1998 and 1999. In 1999 he defeated the renowned malayalm film Actor Murali with a considerable majority.[1] In 2004 he lost to Dr. K. S. Manoj of CPI(M). In 2009, he refused to contest in the elections despite persuasions from party leadership and various social circles stating that younger politicians need to be given opprtunity.[2]
His public life has been noted for his willingness to voice criticism against his own political party. He organized a mass human-chain mobilizing people from all walks of life to protest against sand mining in Alapuzha.
He is a widely accepted Congress leader, who stood at the fore front of many mass social revolts and strikes against various Mafias of sand mining, liquor, real estate etc.
He is a leader accepted and respected even by his political rivals for his fights to uphold genuine and just social causes.
In his entire political career, he has never been alleged of any scam or corruption. He is the "Mister Clean" in Congress politics in Kerala.
Sudheeran's only defeat till date in an election came in 2004 when he lost to Dr. K. S. Manoj of CPI(M) by a narrow margin of 1009 votes. It may be noted that another politically unknown V. S. Sudheeran contested from the same constituency got more than 8000 votes in the election.
His failure in 2004 election fortified the need of a practical strategy to stop the contesting of fake candidates in elections to mislead the voters. With his failure in 2004, the fake candidature became a controversial issue in every constituency. The clamour to stop 'Fake Candidature' is increasing day by day, but the same was not tackled properly even in the 2009 poll.
As he is always known for his stands in ideological politics, he is the only KPCC Executive member voluntarily told he is not contesting in the election for the sake of young people who did not have chance to contest. He was the only person in the list submitted by Trissur District Congress Committee.