Sincerely, Me

“As a Leader of Opposition, the diligent research and homework that he puts into all of the topics that he talks about is commendable”

– M.B. Rajesh, Speaker of Kerala

Currently, I am honoured to hold important positions such as the Leader of Opposition, Kerala Legislative Assembly, and the UDF Chairman, Kerala. I am also a member of the Political Affairs Committee, Congress, Kerala.

“I believe that serving the people is not just a responsibility, but a privilege, and I will continue to work hard to fulfill this purpose.”

The journey that made me who I am today

A brief history of my life

Nettoor: I was born on May 31, 1964 to my parents, K Damodara Menon and Smt. V Vilasini Amma in Nettoor, Eranakulam. Growing up in a middle-class household as one of six siblings, we had a humble upbringing. As a student, I was an avid reader and I enjoyed participating in many debate and speech competitions. During my days at Panangad High School, I also served as the school leader. After receiving my Bachelor’s degree from Sacred Hearts College in Thevara, I went on to do my Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Rajagiri College of Social Sciences.

With my wife, Lakshmipriya and my daughter, Unnimaya, my biggest supporters and honest critics.

Thiruvananthapuram: I stepped into students’ politics during my undergraduate days, and my aspiration to keep serving the people led me to take up law for my higher education. I did my LLB degree from Kerala Law Academy Law College and my LLM from the Government Law College in Thiruvananthapuram. After my post-graduation, I briefly practised law in the Kerala High Court before beginning my political career.

My Work So Far

As a politician, I have always been passionate about serving the people, and I have been fortunate to hold various positions that have allowed me to do so. In my previous organisational positions, I served as an AICC Secretary and a member of the Committee on Economic Resolution at the 84th Plenary Session. I also had the privilege of serving as the Chairman of the Screening Committee for the Orissa Assembly Election and as the Whip for the Congress Legislative Party in Kerala. Furthermore, I served as the Vice President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee.

As a five-time Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, my unwavering commitment has always been to represent the people. During my tenure, I have served as a valuable member of the UDF Higher Affairs Committee in Kerala, as well as the esteemed Chairman of both the Public Accounts Committee and the Assembly Estimates Committee. Through these roles, I have consistently worked towards the betterment of my community, advocating for the needs and concerns of my constituents.

My Interests

Ever since I was a child, I have been captivated by a wide range of interests that have shaped my life. My love for reading was the first to blossom, and as I grew older, my curiosity was piqued by history, which became a cherished pursuit during my college days. Being a nature lover, I have always been drawn to the wilderness, and whenever I get the chance, I go on treks through the woods. The serenity of nature has a profound effect on me, and I am constantly fascinated by the different aspects of nature. This appreciation for nature has also ignited a deep passion for environmental conservation, driving me to actively contribute towards protecting our natural world through my services.

In addition to my work in politics, I have also served as president of various trade unions, including:

Cochin Refineries Employees Association
Premier Tyres Workers Union
TCC Employees Union
IRE Workers Union
Hindalco Workers Union
Carborandom Universal Employees Union Koratty
Ernakulam Dist. Co-Op Bank Employees Union
Kerala State Co-Operative Rubber Marketing Federation Employees Congress
Masoneilan Employees Union, INTUC
TELK Employees Union

HMT Employees Union, Kalamassery
KMML Employees Union, Kollam
CIAL Officers Association, Nedumbassery
Employees Union Binani Zinc Limited
Hindustan Latex, Employees Union, Trivandrum
Backward Development Corporation Employees Union
CWRDM, Employees Union, Kozhikode
Sree Padhmanabha Temple Employees Union
INTUC, Trivandrum
NITA Gelatin India Limited, Employees Union, Chalakudy
Kerala State Housing Board Employees Union

Awards and Recognitions

My passion for serving the people as a politician has been unwavering for the last 20 years. Throughout this time, I have been dedicated to making sure that the voices of the people are heard, and I feel grateful to have received recognition for my work from various sources.

AA Rahim Memorial Award for Best Parliamentarian
Global Malayali Council, Singapore Chapter – Best MLA
Cherian J Kappan Memorial Award for Best MLA in the state from the Rajiv Gandhi
National Centre for Humanitarian Studies, Palai
Vasthavam Daily – Best Parliamentarian Award
FOKANA – Outstanding Performance in the Legislative Assembly
Rajeev Gandhi foundation, Kollam – Best Political Leader of the State
A Pachan Foundation, Kollam – Yuva Parliamentarian
KS Narayanan Namboothiri Foundation – Best MLA of the State
Shri N Sundaran Nadar National Foundation – Best Political Leader award
TM Jacob Foundation – Best Parliamentarian Award

Rajeev Gandhi Study Centre, Malappuram – Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Award 2013
VC Padmanabhan Memorial Award for achieving excellence in public governance
Reporter TV Jananayakan Award – Best MLA of State
MP Gangadaran Foundation Award – Best MLA 2013 of State
KMA Latheef Memorial Award for excellence in the field of Public service
Sreenarayana Sahithya Parishath Award – Best Political Reformer
S Sujanapal Memorial Award
CC Ismail Sahib Memorial Award – Best MLA
PT Madhusoodanakurup Memorial Award – Best Politician
PR Francis Memorial Award for excellence in the field of Public service

“We need to strike a balance between sustainable development and environment…

There is no space for the conventional kind of opposition for the sake of opposing something in this era. We need to have a consensus and continuity in developmental activities”