A. K. Balan (born 3 August 1948) is an Indian politician and advocate. He was the Minister for Devaswom and SC/ST Development in the Left Democratic Front government under V. S. Achuthanandan from 2006 to 2011,[1] Minister for SC/ST, Law, Cultural Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs in the first Pinarayi Vijayan ministry and a member of Central Committee of Communist Party of India (Marxist). He represented the Tarur constituency in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2021.[2]

A. K. Balan
Minister for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development and Electricity, Government of Kerala
In office
2006 (2006)–2011 (2011)
Preceded byAryadan Mohammed
Succeeded byAryadan Mohammed
ConstituencyCoyalmannam
Minister for Law, Cultural Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, SC/ST Development
In office
25 May 2016 (2016-05-25) – 3 May 2021 (2021-05-03)
Succeeded by
Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly
In office
1 June 2011 (2011-06-01) – 2021 (2021)
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byP. P. Sumod
ConstituencyTarur
Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly
In office
2001 (2001)–2011 (2011)
Succeeded byPosition dissolved
ConstituencyKuzhalmannam
Personal details
Born (1948-08-03) 3 August 1948 (age 76)
Nadapuram, Malabar District, Madras Presidency, Dominion of India
(present day Kozhikode, Kerala, India)
Political partyCommunist Party of India (Marxist)
SpouseDr. P. K. Jameela
Children2
Parents
  • Kelappan
  • Kunhi
Education
Alma mater

Personal life

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A. K. Balan was born to Kelappan and Kunhi on 3 August 1948 at Nadapuram in present-day Kozhikode district, Kerala.[3] He is married to Dr. P. K. Jameela (Rtd. DHS) and has two sons, Nikhil Balan and Naveen Balan.[4] Jameela was appointed Management Consultant at Aardram Mission in 2017.[5] Naveen is married to Namitha Venugopal[6] and was an international business developer in Paris, France.[7] Nikhil is a graduate of Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram and has also completed Post Graduation in Air and Space Law from Leiden University, Netherlands,[8] becoming the first Malayali to complete the course.[9]

Education

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Balan received his B.A. degree from Government Brennen College, Thalassery, and also holds an LL.B degree from Government Law College, Kozhikode.

Career

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A. K. Balan - Minister for Law, Cultural Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, SC/ST Development in Kerala Government

Balan entered politics through students movement and served as the President and the Secretary of Kerala State Committee of Students' Federation of India (SFI). He took part in 'Land Agitation' and imprisoned for 30 days in Kannur Central Prison.[10] He was elected to Lok Sabha from Ottapalam constituency in 1980 and to Kerala Legislative Assembly from Kuzhalmannam in 2001.

He is first electricity minister of any state in Indian history to electrify a district completely. In February 2010, under his ministry Palakkad was declared first district in India to be fully electrified.[11]

He is also having record of giving the most electricity connections to consumers in Kerala state. Kerala also won the National Award for Energy Conservation during his period as minister.[12] He was the Minister for SC/ST, Law, Cultural Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs for the State of Kerala and the Central Committee member of CPIM.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Twelfth Kerala Legislative Assembly". Kerala Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  2. ^ "Members of Legislative Assempbly". Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 30 January 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  3. ^ "A. K. Balan". Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Profile – Sri.A.K Balan". Archived from the original on 25 September 2018.
  5. ^ "AK Balan's wife appointed as Management Consultant at Aardram Mission".
  6. ^ "മന്ത്രി എ.കെ.ബാലന്റെ മകൻ വിവാഹിതനായി".
  7. ^ "ഭരണം ഈ കൈകളിൽ".
  8. ^ "ബഹിരാകാശ നിയമങ്ങൾ പഠിക്കാൻ?".
  9. ^ "നിഖിൽ ബാലൻ: ഇന്റർനാഷണൽ സ്പേസ് നിയമത്തിൽ പിജി നേടുന്ന ആദ്യ മലയാളി". Archived from the original on 16 February 2017.
  10. ^ "A. K. Balan". Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  11. ^ "Palakkad country's first fully electrified district - Indian Express". 12 February 2010.
  12. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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