V. Kunhikrishnan

V. Kunhikrishnan (born 1952) is an Indian politician from Kerala. He is a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Payyanur Assembly constituency in Kannur district. He won as an independent candidate and made history by winning in a constituency where the CPI(M) was undefeated for more than 60 years.

Early life and education Kunhikrishnan is from Payyanur, Kannur district, Kerala. He is the son of Kammara Poduval. He did his schooling as Government High School, Karivellur and passed the SSLC examination in March 1970. He later did a Junior Diploma at Co-Operative Training Center, Kozhikode in 1976. He is a retired employee and decalred assets worth Rs.4 crore in his affidavit to the Election Commission of India.

Career He contested as a rebel CPI (M) candidate supported by the UDF and won the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly election from Payyanur Assembly constituency as an independent politician. He polled 76,640 votes and defeated his nearest rival and sitting MLA T. I. Madhusoodanan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), by a margin of 7,487 votes.