R.S. Unni

R.S. Unni (18 February 1925 – 17 February 1999) was an Indian politician and trade unionist. He served as a Central Committee member of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and president of the United Trade Union Congress (UTUC). A state legislator for decades, he served as a Kerala state government minister in the 1980s.

Student and labour activism R.S. Unni was the son of Raman Unni. In his youth he was active in student politics, through the Travancore Congress.

Legislator He contested the 1960 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, standing as a candidate in the Thrrikkadavur constituency. He obtained 17,309 votes (16.7%). In 1965 he contested the Eravipuram assembly seat, finishing in second place with 18,458 votes (35.55%). He lost the seat by a margin of 656 votes. He won the Eravipuram seat in the 1967 assembly election, obtaining 31,083 votes (63.41%).

Deputy Speaker R.S. Unni retained the Eravipuram seat in the 1970 election, obtaining 35,631 votes (62.53%). He was the Deputy Speaker of the legislative assembly between 31 October 1970 and 22 March 1977. Between 9 May 1975 and 16 February 1976 he acted as the Speaker of the assembly. He again won the Eravipuram seat in the 1977 election, obtaining 39,119 votes (58.52%). He served as Kerala State Committee secretary of RSP 1978–1980. Between 25 January and 20 October 1981 he held the post as Minister for Local Administration in the E.K. Nayanar cabinet. He was the opposition candidate for the post as speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly in June 1982, but was defeated by 74 against 61 votes.

Lok Sabha candidate R.S. Unni contested the Quilon Lok Sabha seat in the 1984 Indian general election. He finished in second place with 259,371 votes (46.14%). He again contested the Quilon seat in the 1991 Indian general election, finishing in second place with 342,796 votes (46.63%).