E. Balanandan

E. Balanandan (June 16, 1924 – January 19, 2009) 

was born in Baruvapattil Family in the town of Kannimelcheri, Sakthikulangara, Kollam, to Kochu thoppil Kunjiraman Channar and Unnikali Eeswari. He had to quit his school education to work for his family. He started working as an electrician in Indian Aluminium Company Kalamassery in Ernakulam District. Later he organised a trade union inside the Company. As a pioneering trade union leader he was dismissed from work during Punnapra Vayalar Strike. Later he became a well dedicated organiser of Communist Party. He served Communist Party as a member of the state secretariat and later elected to the Central Committee. After EMS and AKG, he was the first Malayali to become a member of the Polit Bureau of the CPM. After the demise of B.T Ranadive in 1990, Balanandan became the all India President of the CITU. He was elected twice to the Kerala Legislative Assembly (1967-77). He was elected to the Lok Sabha for a term in 1980. He served two terms in the Rajya Sabha from 1988 to 2000. He also has delivered a speech at United Nations representing Indian Parliament.