pinarayi vijayan

Pinarayi Vijayan was Friday re-elected for the fourth time as the state secretary of the CPI (M) here. Party sources said a new, expanded state committee with 84 members was formed with 12 new faces.

However, seven leaders including Sarojini Balanandan was dropped from the committee. The others who have been dropped on account of old age include P R Rajan, K Thulasi, K K Mamukkutty, C O Poulose, M Kelappan and P Unnikrishna Pillai.

Born in a poor toddy tapper's family in Kannur on March 21, 1944, to Mundayil Koran and Kalyani, Pinarayi came through a poverty stricken childhood. After passing out of school, he worked as a hand loom weaver for one year before joining for Pre-University course in the Government Brennen College, Thalassery. Later he completed degree course from there.

He became an active worker of students’ movements and participated in various struggles. He also worked as the State President and Secretary of Kerala Students Federation (KSF) and State President of Kerala Socialist Youth Federation (KSYF). He played a key role in protecting the organisation from the clutches of Naxalities ideology. He became a member of CPI (M) Kannur District Committee at the age of 24, and District Secretariat at the age of 28. He was elected to the State Legislative Assembly four times, in 1970, 1977, 1991 and 1996.

Koliyakkode Krishnan Nair, T V Rajesh, James Mathew, Saji Cherian, C B Chandrababu, C K Rajendran, A C Moideen, P P Vasudevan, P Nanda Kumar, K V Krishnan, P Mary and P Biju found place in the new panel.