Senior Congress leader and former Member of Parliament K.P. Dhanapalan passed away on May 30, 2026, at the age of 76 in Paravur, Kochi. He represented the Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency from 2009 to 2014 as a member of the 15th Lok Sabha. His passing marks the end of a long career in Kerala politics, where he served in key organizational, civic, and administrative roles.
Political Journey and Leadership Roles
Dhanapalan entered public life through student politics, actively participating in the activities of the Kerala Students Union (KSU). He served as the unit president of the student organisation at SN High School in North Paravur and later advanced to hold the post of the Ernakulam district secretary of KSU. His involvement in student and youth movements prepared him for larger leadership roles within the Youth Congress, where he eventually served as the district president and the state vice president.
Within the Indian National Congress (INC), Dhanapalan held several significant organizational posts. He served as the president of the Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC), where he was instrumental in strengthening the party’s grassroots base in central Kerala. Later, he rose to become the secretary and vice president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). He was also inducted as a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and served on the Congress Political Affairs Committee in Kerala. Throughout his career, he was widely recognized as a trusted associate of veteran Congress leader and former Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony.
Parliamentary Career and Civic Contributions
In the 2009 general elections, Dhanapalan contested from the newly formed Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency and won, serving as a Member of Parliament until 2014. During his tenure in the 15th Lok Sabha, he participated in parliamentary proceedings and advocated for regional development projects in central Kerala. Prior to his parliamentary term, he spent a decade in local governance, serving as a councillor in the Paravur Municipality for ten years. In the 2014 general elections, he contested from the neighbouring Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency but was unsuccessful.
Administrative and Co-operative Appointments
Dhanapalan served in several administrative and corporate leadership capacities in the public sector. He was appointed as the chairman of the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (MILMA), which functions as the apex co-operative body managing dairy production, procurement, and distribution in Kerala. Additionally, he contributed to the rural credit and regional banking sector by serving as a member of the board of directors of the North Malabar Gramin Bank.
Key Takeaways
- Senior Congress leader and former Member of Parliament K.P. Dhanapalan passed away on May 30, 2026, at the age of 76.
- He represented the Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency as a member of the 15th Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2014.
- He served as the president of the Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) and as the vice president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).
- He held key public sector positions including the chairman of the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (MILMA).
- He served as a councillor of the Paravur Municipality for ten years prior to his term in Parliament.
