A. K. Saseendran
Indian politician (born 1946)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A. K. Saseendran (born 29 January 1946) is an Indian politician who served as the Minister for Forests and Wildlife Protection of Kerala from 2021 to 2026.[1] He previously served as the Minister for Transport of Kerala from 2018 to 2021 and from 2016 to 2017. He was a Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly representing Elathur from 2011 to 2026. 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.
A.K.Saseendran | |
|---|---|
| |
| Minister for Forests, Wild Life Protection Government of Kerala | |
| In office 20 May 2021 – 18 May 2026 | |
| Preceded by | K. Raju |
| Succeeded by | Shibu Baby John |
| Minister for Transport, Government of Kerala | |
| In office 1 February 2018 – 03 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Chandy |
| Succeeded by | Antony Raju |
| In office 25 May 2016 – 26 March 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Chandy |
| Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1 June 2011 – 23 May 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Established |
| Succeeded by | Vidya Balakrishnan |
| Constituency | Elathur |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 January 1946 |
| Party | NCP-SP (2024-present) |
Other political affiliations | Congress (S) (1978-1987) IC(S)-SCS (1987-1999) NCP (1999-2024) |
| Spouse | Anitha Krishnan N. T. |
| Children | Varun Saseendran |
| Parents |
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Personal life
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]
| 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] |
| 2026 | Elathur | Vidya Balakrishnan (INC) | 12162 | Lost[12] |
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.[13][14][15]
After initially denying allegations of conspiring against Saseendran,[16] Mangalam TV's CEO eventually apologised and admitted that it was a sting operation done by a female journalist employed by the channel.[17]
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.[15][18]
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.[19][20] Saseendran was the second Minister to resign from the first Pinarayi Vijayan ministry.[21]