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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