K. P. Prabhakaran

K. P. Prabhakaran (died 11 August 2009) was a communist politician and trade unionist from Kerala, India. He was a senior leader of the Communist Party of India, served as Health Minister of Kerala for one period. At the time of his death, he was the chairman of the State Control Commission of CPI.

Early activism Prabhakaran became an activist of Balasangham, the pioneer movement of the Communist Party in Kerala, in the early 1940s.

Trade unionism Prabhakaran was president of the Enamavu Peringottukara Toddy Workers' Union for 55 years.

Electoral politics He was elected to the legislative assembly of Travancore-Cochin in 1951, representing the Manalur constituency. In 1954 he lost the seat to Congress leader K. Karunakaran. He was cremated with full state honours on 12 August 2009 at his residence premises. During the day, his body had been put on display. Thousands of people visited the house to pay their respects. Prominent participants at the funeral included Mullappally Ramachandran (Union Minister of State for Home Affairs), Mullakkara Ratnakaran (Kerala Minister of Agriculture), Benoy Viswam (Kerala Forest Minister), Elamaram Kareem (Kerala Minister of Industries), P. R. Rajan (Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha member), P. C. Chacko (Thrissur Lok Sabha member) and Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhi (ex-Archbishop, Thrissur).

Family Prabhakaran was the son of Paran and Lakshmikutty. He was survived by five children, K. P. Gopalakrishnan (Engineer), K. P. Rajendran (Politician), K. P. Surendran (Engineer), K. P. Pradeep (Scientist) and K. P. Ajayan (Engineer). His son K. P. Rajendran was the Revenue Minister of Kerala from 2006–2011.