Shri. K. Karunakaran could add another
feather to his cap by repeating the role of King Maker in finding out a
successor to Rajiv Gandhi; but for him it would have been normally delayed and
made difficult; or perhaps even changed the destiny of India. Being the senior
most leader of Congress, he convened its parliamentary party meeting and got
elected the late Shri. P.V. Narasimha Rao as the next Prime Minister of India.
Shri. K. Karunakaran could manage it only because of his prompt intervention,
political acumen and invaluable treasure of experience, and above all, the
respect, the regard and the reputation he owned in the party and among the
Congress Members of Parliament, as well as the eminent leaders of other
prominent political parties of India. This envious position he made use of,
again, while he successfully managed to ensure majority to the Confidence
Motion to Narasimha Rao Ministry. Shri. K. Karunakaran was the Chairman of the
committee constituted for amending the Constitution of Indian National
Congress. He was also the head of the Committee for revamping the Congress
Party. It was he, who proposed the tangible solution for reservation, at a
time, when this sensitive issue rocked the Nation. His ability to prompt
proposition of apt panacea to iron out the burning issues and stalemate and to
give spontaneous replies to disquieting questions are unparalleled.
Shri. Karunakaran was the Home Minister from
25..09..1971 to 24..03..1977 in the Ministry headed by Shri. C. Achutha Menon.
While the emergency was declared in 1975, he took utmost care in administering
the state without giving any room for complaint of any excess of the emergency
powers and this was recognized by the people of Kerala when they returned the
UDF to power with record majority in the ensuing elections of 1977.
Shri.K. Karunakaran has been the Chief
Minister of Kerala four times. He took charge as Chief Minister for the first
time on 25-3-1977. However he tendered his resignation on 25-4-1977,
immediately following certain references by the Kerala High Court in what came
to be known as ‘Rajan case’. He took charge as Chief Minister again on December
28, 1981. However, this ministry did not last long. He resigned on 17th March
1982, following the withdrawal of support by a member of the Kerala Congress
(M). Midterm elections to the 7th Kerala Legislative Assembly was held on May
19, 1982. The Ministry with Shri. K.Karunakaran as Chief Minister assumed
office on 24th May 1982 and continued till 1987. On June 24, 1991,
Shri.K.Karunakaran took charge as Chief Minister of Kerala for the fourth term,
and resigned on March 16, 1995, making way for Shri. A.K.Antony to take up the
Chief Ministership.
As a veteran Parliamentarian, whose career
stretches over five decades, Shri. K. Karunakaran has been elected three times
to Rajya Sabha and to Lok Sabha twice. He was a member of Rajya Sabha during
1995-97, 1997-98 and 2004-2005. He has been elected to Lok Sabha from
Thiruvananthapuram in 1998 and from Mukundapuram Constituency in 1999. Shri. K.
Karunakaran served as the Minister for Industries in the Union Cabinet for one
year in 1995.
Widely respected within the country as
‘leader’ and administrator, Shri. K. Karunakaran has contributed much to the
development of the state. The Kerala State Film Development Corporation,
Nedumbassery Airport, Gosree Project, Guruvayoor Railway Line, Jawaharlal Nehru
International Stadium and NTPC Kayamkulam are among them. It was during his
Chief Ministership that two districts viz Kasargod and Pathanamthitta were
formed. During his tenure as Chief Minister from 1982-87 he retained the
portfolio of SC/ST Development Department and this period was considered as
golden days for them.
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