A. K. Saseendran

Not to be confused with C. K. Saseendran.

A.K.Saseendran
Minister for Forests, Wild Life Protection Government of Kerala
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 May 2021
Minister for Transport, Government of Kerala
In office
1 February 2018 (2018-02-01) – 03 May 2021
Preceded byThomas Chandy
Succeeded byAntony Raju
In office
25 May 2016 (2016-05-25) – 26 March 2017 (2017-03-26)
Preceded byThiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan
Succeeded byThomas Chandy
Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 June 2011 (2011-06-01)
Preceded byEstablished
ConstituencyElathur
Personal details
Born (1946-01-29) 29 January 1946 (age 78)
Kannur, Malabar District, Madras Presidency, British India
(present-day Kerala, India)
Political party[1]
SpouseAnitha Krishnan N. T.
ChildrenVarun Saseendran
Parents
  • K. Kunhambu
  • M. K. Janaki
Residence(s)Chovva, Kannur

A. K. Saseendran (born 29 January 1946) is an Indian politician who has served as the Minister for Forests and Wildlife Protection of Kerala since 2021.[1] He previously served as the Minister for Transport of Kerala from 2018 to 2021 and from 2016 to 2017. He is a Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly representing Elathur since 2011. He previously represented Peringalam from 1980 to 1982, Edakkad from 1982 to 1987 and Balussery from 2006 to 2011 in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. He is a member of the Nationalist Congress Party.

Personal life

Saseendran was born in Kannur on 29 January 1946 to K. Kunhambu and M. K. Janaki. He is married to Anitha Krishnan N T, and has one son, Varun. He resides at Mele Chovva, Kannur.[2]

Political life

One among the senior leaders in Kerala politics. A native of Elayavoor in Kannur, Saseendran started his political career through KSU in 1962. After holding various party posts, he joined Congress (S) in 1978. Later he joined NCP and currently he is a member of national working committee since 2006. He was elected to the Assembly in 1980 from Peringalam, 1982 from Edakkad, 2006 from Balussery and three times consecutively from Elathur during 2011,2016 and 2021 elections.

Positions held

  • President, District Committee, Kerala Students Union Kozhikode (1963–66)
  • General Secretary, Kerala Students Union (1967–69)
  • General Secretary (1969–77)
  • Vice President (1969–78) and President (1978-80)
  • Kerala Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (1978–80)
  • Member, Coffee Board (1978–80)
  • ISCUS (1977–81)
  • Governing Board of Kerala Saksharata Samiti (1987-91 & 1992-97)
  • Kerala State Housing Board (1997-2001)
  • Vice-President, Jawaharlal Nehru Public Library and Research Centre, Kannur
  • General Secretary, Congress (U) & Indian Congress Socialist (Congress(S))
  • Member, Advisory Committee, Food Corporation of India
  • State General Secretary, State Vice President, National Committee Member, Working Committee Member and Parliamentary Party leader of Nationalist Congress Party (N.C.P.)
  • Kerala Legislative Assembly; Minister for Transport (from 25-5-2016 to 27-3-2017 and 01-2-2018 to 03-05-2021)
  • Kerala Legislative Assembly; Minister for Forests, Wild Life Protection (from 20-5-2021) [3]
Kerala Legislative Assembly Election
Year Constituency Closest Rival Majority

(Votes)

Won/Lost
1980 Peringalam K. C. Marar (JNP) 5890 Won[4]
1982 Edakkad K. Sudhakaran (Janata-G) 7543 Won[5]
1987 Cannanore P. Bhaskaran (INC) 8048 Lost[6]
1991 Cannanore N. Ramakrishnan (INC) 14805 Lost[7]
2006 Balusseri K Balakrishnan Kidavu(INC) 14160 Won[8]
2011 Elathur Shaik P Harriz (SJD) 14654 Won[9]
2016 Elathur Kishen Chand (JD(U)) 29057 Won[10]
2021 Elathur Sulphikar Mayoori (IND) 38502 Won[11]
In office
Shri. A K Saseendran swearing-in as Minister of Forests, Wild Life protection.

Controversy

On 26 March 2017, Saseendran resigned as minister after a newly launched Malayalam television channel, Mangalam TV, aired a telephonic audio clip that portrayed him speaking in a sexually explicit way to someone whom the channel claimed was a housewife.[12][13][14]

After initially denying allegations of conspiring against Saseendran,[15] Mangalam TV's CEO eventually apologised and admitted that it was a sting operation done by a female journalist employed by the channel.[16]

On 4 April, the CEO and four media people of Mangalam TV were arrested by the Kerala Police for airing an "obscene conversation" and for criminal conspiracy.[14][17]

Later, Saseendran was acquitted in the case after the complainant, who had earlier alleged sexual harassment, turned hostile in court; he returned to his previous position as minister.[18][19] Saseendran was the second Minister to resign from the first Pinarayi Vijayan ministry.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Welcome to Kerala Legislature". www.niyamasabha.org. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  3. ^ A.K, Saseendran. "Kerala Legislature Members". Niyamasabha.org. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election Results in 1980". www.elections.in. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election Results 1982: EDAKKAD- A. K. Saseendran". www.keralaassembly.org. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election Results in 1987". www.elections.in. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election Results in 1991". www.elections.in. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election Results in 2006". www.elections.in. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election Results in 2011". www.elections.in. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election Results in 2016". www.elections.in. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Minister A K Saseendran phone talk Mangalam tv exclusive launching YouTube 360p - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Kerala minister AK Saseendran quits over alleged obscene phone call with woman". Hindustan Times. 26 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Kerala sleaze audio case: Mangalam TV channel CEO, 4 others arrested". Hindustan Times. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  15. ^ "'Will you stop journalism if HONEY TRAP proved'?; Mangalam CEO tongue tied in Editors Hour - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Mangalam TV CEO apologises for sting against former minister". The Indian Express. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  17. ^ Legal, India (11 April 2017). "Trouble in store for Mangalam TV". India Legal. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  18. ^ "NCP's AK Saseendran acquitted; set to return to Kerala state cabinet". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  19. ^ "After acquittal in sleaze talk case, AK Saseendran returns to Kerala cabinet". The Financial Express. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  20. ^ "Kerala Transport Minister Saseendran quits after TV exposé". The Hindu. 26 March 2017.