Thennala Balakrishna Pillai

Pillai died at Thiruvananthapuram on 6 June 2025, at the age of 95.

Early life He was born at Sooranad, Kollam, Kingdom of Travancore in a Nair family on 11 March 1930, as the son of N. Gopala Pillai and N. Eswari Amma and brought up there. He got married on 3 July 1963 to Sathi Devi and they had one daughter. He held a B.Sc. degree from Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram.

Political career Pillai started his political life from very young age. He was elected as:

President of Sooranadu, Pulikulam ward Congress committee. President of Mandalam Congress committee of Sooranadu North in Kollam district. President of Kunnathur Block Congress Committee. President Anayadi Corporative service Bank, Sooranadu North President Engineering Technicians Co-operative society President District Co-operative Bank, Pathanamthitta Vice President District Co-operative Bank, Kollam Chairman Disciplinary Action Committee constituted by KPCC to recommend action against those who worked against those who contested and worked against the official candidates in the local bodies elections held in the year 1989 and again in 1996. Chairman Committee constituted by KPCC to scrutinise the membership of the party in its organisational election. Chairman Committee constituted by KPCC to go into allegations against Ministers for their interference in organisational election. Chairman Committee constituted by KPCC to enquire into the reasons for the failure of CWC Member Shri. K. Karunakaran in Thrissur Parliament Elections Chairman State Campaign Committee Chairman in 1996 Elections Convener Congress MPs from Kerala KPCC Member since 1962 Treasurer District Congress Committee, Kollam President of the Kollam DCC for 5.5 years General Secretary, Kerala Pradesh Congress (I) Committee (K.P.C.C.) (1981–92) Chairman Scrutiny Committee of KPCC for the organisational election (1990–1992) Chairman, Disciplinary Action Committee of the KPCC (1998–2001) President KPCC (1998–2001) Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly from Adoor Constituency (1977–80 and 1982–87) July 1991 Elected to the Rajya Sabha Member, Rubber Board April 1992 Re-elected to Rajya Sabha April 2003 Re-elected to Rajya Sabha Member, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram Member Committee on Urban and Rural Development (April 1993 – April 1998) Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development Member, Joint Committee of the Houses of Parliament committee on salaries and allowance of the members of parliament (1992–1998) Member, National River Conservation Authority Member, Petition Committee of Rajya Sabha Member Managing Committee State Co-operative Union Kerala Member, Committee on Commerce Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Consumer Affairs Member, National Shipping Board Member, Philatelic Advisory Committee Member, Sub Committee for Special Economic Zones. President Akhila Kerala Ayyyappa Seva Sangham