->Qwerfjkl (bot): clean up; fix CW Error #101: Ordinal numbers should be in regular text, not inside ^tags.

2021-11-10T17:26:48Z

clean up; fix CW Error #101: Ordinal numbers should be in regular text, not inside tags.

>CommonsDelinker: Removing RameshChennithala.jpg; it has been deleted from Commons by Ellin Beltz because: Copyright violation; see Commons:Licensing.

2021-06-30T01:42:05Z

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{{family name hatnote|Chennithala|Ramesh|Indian name|lang=Toponymic}}
{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-suffix =
| name =
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| office = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start = {{Start date|2011||}}
| term_end =
| constituency = [[Haripad]]
| predecessor = Adv. B. Babuprasad
| office1 = [[Leader of Opposition]], [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start1 = 29 May 2016
| term_end1 = 20 May 2021
| governor1 = [[P. Sathasivam]] [[Arif Mohammad Khan]]
| predecessor1 = [[V. S. Achuthanandan]]
| successor1 = [[V.D. Satheesan]]
| office2 = Minister of Home Affairs, [[Kerala]]
| term_start2 = 1 January 2014
| term_end2 = 20 May 2016
| predecessor2 = [[Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan]]
| successor2 = [[Pinarayi Vijayan]]
| office3 = Minister of Rural Development, [[Kerala]]
| term_start3 = 5 June 1986
| term_end3 = 25 March 1987
| predecessor3 = [[N Sundaran Nadar]]
| successor3 = [[T. Sivadasa Menon]]
| office4 = President of the [[Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee]]
| term_start4 = 2005
| term_end4 = 2014
| predecessor4 = [[K. Muraleedharan]]
| successor4 = [[V. M. Sudheeran]]
| assembly6 = Kerala Legislative
| term_start6 = 1982
| term_end6 = 1989
| office7 = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Kottayam (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kottayam]]
| term_start7 = 1989
| term_end7 = 1998
| predecessor7 = [[K. Suresh Kurup]]
| successor7 = [[K. Suresh Kurup]]
| office8 = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Mavelikara (Lok Sabha constituency)|Mavelikara]]
| term_start8 = 1999
| term_end8 = 2004
| predecessor8 = [[P. J. Kurien]]
| successor8 = [[C. S. Sujatha]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1956|5|25}}
| birth_place = [[Mavelikkara]], [[Travancore-Cochin]], [[India]]
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
| spouse = {{Marriage|Anita Ramesh|1986}}<ref name="parliamentofindia">{{cite web|url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok11/biodata/11kl11.htm|website=parliamentofindia.nic.in|title=Parlement of India|access-date=2020-12-25}}</ref>
| other names = Usman
| parents = V. Ramakrishnan Nair Devaki Amma
| alma_mater = [[NSS Hindu College, Changanassery|NSS Hindu College]],
[[Government Law College Thiruvananthapuram|Government Law College]]
| website = |
}}
'''Ramesh Chennithala''', {{IPA-ml|ɾɐmeːʃ t͡ʃen̺ːit̪ːɐlɐ|}}, (born 25 May 1956), is an Indian politician, and the senior leader of the [[Indian National Congress]]. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the 14th [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Ramesh-Chennithala-elected-as-new-opposition-leader/articleshow/52491317.cms | title=Ramesh Chennithala (Usman) elected as new opposition leader | publisher=[[Times of India]] | date=29 May 2016 | access-date=2016-05-30}}</ref> He also served as the state Home Minister in the [[Government of Kerala]] for two years. He holds the record of the youngest minister in [[Kerala]] at the age of 28.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Congress Elects Ramesh Chennithala as Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly|url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/congress-elects-ramesh-chennithala-as-leader-of-opposition-in-kerala-assembly-1413314|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ramesh has also served as a [[Member of Parliament]] for four term from Kottayam & Mavelikkara and member of Legislative assembly for three terms. In 2004 loksabha elections he was defeated by CPI(M) leader [[C. S. Sujatha|Adv. C.S. Sujatha]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=General elections 2019: All eight Kerala women to become Lok Sabha MPs|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/nation/2019/jan/31/general-elections-2019-all-eight-kerala-women-to-become-lok-sabha-mps-102079.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> He has represented the highest body of Indian National Congress, the [[Congress Working Committee]] (CWC) in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/congress-elects-ramesh-chennithala-as-leader-of-opposition-in-kerala-assembly-1413314 |title = Congress Elects Ramesh Chennithala as Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly}}</ref> He is the third oppostion leader in Kerala, without been appointed as [[Chief minister of Kerala]].

==Personal life==
Ramesh was born in a Hindu Nair family at [[Chennithala]], [[Mavelikara]] in Kerala, India on 25 May 1956 to V. Ramakrishnan Nair and Devakiamma.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ramesh Chennithala-keralaassembly.org|url=http://keralaassembly.org/election/biodata.php4?no=71&name=Ramesh%20Chennithala}}</ref> He studied [[Bachelor of Arts]] (B.A) degree in Economics and [[Bachelor of Laws]] (LL.B).<ref>{{cite web|title=KERALA LEGISLATURE - MEMBERS|url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/13kla/mem/ramesh_chennithala.htm}}</ref> He is married to Anita.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kerala Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithalas wife Anitha about their wedding|work=Times of India|url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/celebrity-news/kerala-opposition-leader-ramesh-chennithalas-wife-anitha-about-their-wedding/articleshow/69146245.cms}}</ref> They have 2 sons, namely Rohit Chennithala and Ramit Chennithala. Rohit Chennithala is a [[physician]] by profession <ref>{{cite news|title=Ramesh Chennithala's son ties the knot|work=Mathrubhumi|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/good-news/ramesh-chennithala-s-son-ties-the-knot-1.3578187}}</ref> and Ramit Chennithala cleared [[Civil Services Examination (India)|Civil Services Examination 2017]] with 210th rank and currently working in [[Indian Revenue Service]]. <ref>{{cite news|title=State's top rank in Civil Services is 16|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/states-top-rank-in-civil-services-is-16/article23703180.ece}}</ref>

==Political career==

Ramesh Chennithala started political life from his early school days. In 1970, he became the [[Kerala Students Union]] (KSU) Chennithala HS Unit Secretary. He subsequently held series of positions in KSU, namely Mavelikkara Taluk General Secretary in 1971, SU Alappuzha District Treasurer in 1972, Alappuzha District Secretary in 1973, KSU State Executive Member in 1975, KSU State Vice President in 1978, and eventually becoming the KSU State President in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/congress-elects-ramesh-chennithala-as-leader-of-opposition-in-kerala-assembly-1413314 |title = Congress Elects Ramesh Chennithala as Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly}}</ref>

In 1982, he became All India President of [[National Students Union of India]] and later, in the same year got elected as MLA from [[Haripad (State Assembly constituency)|Haripad Constituency]]. In 1985, he became the General Secretary of Indian Youth Congress (I) and went on to become the youngest Minister (Rural Development) in the [[Third K. Karunakaran ministry|Ministry of K. Karunakaran]] in 1986 at the age of 28.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/congress-elects-ramesh-chennithala-as-leader-of-opposition-in-kerala-assembly-1413314 |title = Congress Elects Ramesh Chennithala as Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly}}</ref> In 1986, he became the President of Kerala Pradesh Youth Congress (I), Kerala and in 1987 he was re-elected as MLA from Haripad Constituency.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/congress-elects-ramesh-chennithala-as-leader-of-opposition-in-kerala-assembly-1413314 |title = Congress Elects Ramesh Chennithala as Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly}}</ref>

In 1989 he was elected as Member of Parliament from [[Kottayam (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kottayam Parliamentary Constituency]] and became National President, [[Indian Youth Congress]] (I) in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/chennithala-elected-as-clp-leader-in-kerala-617171-2016-05-29 | title=Chennithala elected as CLP leader in Kerala}}</ref> In 1999, he became Member of Parliament from [[Mavelikara (Lok Sabha constituency)|Mavelikkara Parliamentary Constituency]]. In 2004 loksabha elections he was defeated by CPI(M) leader [[C. S. Sujatha|Adv. C.S. Sujatha.]]<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Kerala awards.jpg|thumb|left|Ramesh Chennithala along with the delegates from [[UAE]].]]
Later in 1991, 1996, and 1999 he was re-elected to Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/chennithala-elected-as-clp-leader-in-kerala-617171-2016-05-29 | title=Chennithala elected as CLP leader in Kerala}}</ref> He received rich accolades for his fiery speeches in Hindi and English during his tenure. In 2001 he became the AICC Secretary with independent charge of seven states and in 2002 with independent charge of five states. In 2004, he was selected to the highest body of Indian National Congress, the Congress Working Committee (CWC).<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/chennithala-elected-as-clp-leader-in-kerala-617171-2016-05-29 | title=Chennithala elected as CLP leader in Kerala}}</ref>

He was also a member of various committees including Consultative Committee for Commerce; Labour and Welfare Committee; Central Committee for 125th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi; Central Committee for Birth Centenary of Subhash Chandra Bose; Finance Committee-Lok Sabha; H.R.D. Standing Committee; Public Accounts Committee; Coir Board; Civil aviation Consultative Committee; and Joint Parliamentary Committee on Pesticides in Soft Drinks and Fruit Drinks. Other important positions held include - KPCC President, AICC Secretary, Indian Youth Congress National President, President- Pradesh Youth Congress (I) Kerala.
[[File:സ്വര്ണ്ണ കപ്പുമായ് വിജയികള്..JPG|thumb|left|Ramesh giving Golden Trophy to the winners of [[Kerala School Kalolsavam]], Asia's biggest cultural event.]]
In 2005, he returned to the State politics to become President of [[Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee]]. In 2011, for the third time, he was re-elected as MLA from Haripad Constituency. In 2014, he was sworn in as the Home Minister of Kerala.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/chennithalasworn-in-kerala-home-minister/article5525729.ece | title=Chennithala sworn in Kerala Home Minister| newspaper=The Hindu| date=January 2014}}</ref> His "Operation Kubera" project was intended to stop the reign of illegal money lenders in the State.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/chennithalasworn-in-kerala-home-minister/article5525729.ece | title=Chennithala sworn in Kerala Home Minister| newspaper=The Hindu| date=January 2014}}</ref> "Clean campus safe campus" project was to stop the usage of drugs in campus.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/antidrug-campaign-to-be-extended-to-colleges/article7360184.ece |title = Anti-drug campaign to be extended to colleges|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 27 June 2015}}</ref>

He shared the dais with Kerala chief minister [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] at a joint [[Citizenship Amendment Act protests|anti-CAA protest]] organised by the ruling CPM-led LDF to express his views on the [[Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019|CAA]], leader of the opposition Ramesh Chennithala said he has moved a petition challenging the Act.
<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2019/12/16/kerala-caa-protest-ldf-udf-pinarayi-chennithala.html |title = Kerala govt, Oppn speak with one voice at anti-CAA protest}}</ref> which drew criticism from the then KPCC President [[Mullappally Ramachandran]]. However, KPCC vice-president [[V. D. Satheesan]], stated that the protest against CAA and the proposed [[National Register of Citizens]] (NRC) was "a fight for a common cause".<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/dec/23/kerala-congress-rift-wide-open-mullappally-satheesan-spar-over-joint-anti-caa-protest-2079725.html |title = Kerala Congress rift wide open: Mullappally, Satheesan spar over joint anti-CAA protest}}</ref>

== Ministries ==
Ramesh Chennithala holds the record of being the youngest minister in the state at the age of 28.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chennithala elected as CLP leader in Kerala|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/chennithala-elected-as-clp-leader-in-kerala-617171-2016-05-29}}</ref>
*'''Minister of Rural Development''' in [[Third K. Karunakaran ministry]] from 1986 to 1987.

Then he became the [[Member of Parliament]] for a long period and came back to state politics in 2005 and became the President of state [[Indian National Congress|Congress Party]].

*'''Minister of Home Affairs''' in [[Second Oommen Chandy ministry]] from 2014 to 2016.

After the 2016 Kerala election, he became the Leader of the Opposition of the state.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chennithala elected as CLP leader in Kerala|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/chennithala-elected-as-clp-leader-in-kerala-617171-2016-05-29}}</ref>

== Leader of Opposition ==
A meeting held by the Congress leaders on 29 May 2016, chose Ramesh Chennithala as the [[List of Leaders of the Opposition of Kerala|Leader of Opposition]] of [[Kerala Niyamasabha]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/election-aftermath-can-ramesh-chennithala-save-the-congress-in-kerala-2807408.html | title=Election aftermath: Can Ramesh Chennithala save the Congress in Kerala?| date=31 May 2016}}</ref> Under his leadership the [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]] emerged victorious in [[2019 Indian general election]] by winning 19 out of 20 seats in Kerala. This was their biggest victory in the elections after the [[1977 Indian general election|1977 election]]. It was under his leadership UDF faced such a humiliatied defeat in [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election]] and LDF retained power by breaking 4 decade alternative rule trend between [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)]] and [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)]].

=== Actions taken ===

* Ramesh Chennithala approached the Anti-Corruption Court against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Excise Minister [[T. P. Ramakrishnan]] for revising the liquor policy in the state.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/brewery-scandal-ramesh-chennithala-moves-vigilance-court-against-cm-excise-minister/article25641893.ece | title=Kerala liquor 'scandal': Ramesh Chennithala moves anti-corruption court against CM, Excise Minister| newspaper=The Hindu| date=December 2018| last1=Anand| first1=G.}}</ref> However, the Supreme Court exempted grama panchayat areas having an urban nature from liquor prohibition, leading to the reopening of all shut outlets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Liquor outlets to reopen in 10,000-strong panchayats of Kerala|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/mar/17/liquor-outlets-to-reopen-in-10000-strong-panchayats-of-kerala-1788350.html}}</ref> Following this, Chennithala argued that the government was misinterpreting the SC verdict.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/mar/18/opposition-leader-ramesh-chennithala-flays-kerala-governments-move-to-reopen-liquor-outlets-1788805.html | title=Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala flays Kerala government's move to reopen liquor outlets}}</ref>

== Awards ==

* He received PV Sankaranarayanan Memorial Award in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Award for Ramesh Chennithala|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2014/dec/18/Award-for-Ramesh-Chennithala-695489.html|access-date=2020-09-09|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

== Controversy ==

* January 8, 2019: While addressing media in Thiruvananthapuram, Chennithala stated that his decision to appoint [[T. P. Senkumar]] as DGP was "the biggest mistake of my life and I regret the decision,". Chennithala added that Senkumar was made DGP overruling another officer and the decision proved wrong. "We all are bearing the burden of this decision. I took the decision thinking to let a Malayali become the DGP. But now, I regret it," he added. He had earlier criticised the chief minister [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] for removing Senkumar from the post on numerous occasions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Appointing Senkumar as DGP biggest mistake of my life, says Chennithala|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/appointing-senkumar-as-dgp-biggest-mistake-of-my-life-says-chennithala-1.4426292}}</ref>
* September 8, 2020: Ramesh Chennithala's remarks generated controversy when a journalist indicated about the Congress leaned NGO union links of the health inspector who molested a woman who sought COVID-19 negative certificate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Congress Leader Must Apologise For "Insulting Women": Kerala Health Minister|url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/congress-leader-ramesh-chennithala-must-apologise-for-insulting-women-kerala-health-minister-kk-shailaja-2292529|access-date=2020-09-09|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref name="indiatoday">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kerala-congress-leader-ramesh-chennithala-faces-flak-over-insensitive-rape-comment-netizens-demand-apology-1719850-2020-09-08|title=Kerala Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala faces flak over insensitive rape comment, netizens demand apology - India News|website=India Today|date=2020-09-08|author=P. S. Gopikrishnan Unnithan|access-date=2020-12-25}}</ref> Later, he said that his statements were taken out of context but apologized.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Leader Ramesh Chennithala Apologises after Remark on Rape Sparks Row|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/kerala-leader-ramesh-chennithala-apologises-after-remark-on-rape-sparks-row-2863061.html|access-date=2020-09-09|website=News18|date=9 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-09|title=വാക്കുകൾ പിൻവലിച്ച് നിർവ്യാജം ഖേദംപ്രകടിപ്പിക്കുന്നു: രമേശ് ചെന്നിത്തല|url=https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/kerala-news/ramesh-chennithala-apology-controversial-statement-415543/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=Indian Express Malayalam|language=ml}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ഖേദം പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ച് രമേശ് ചെന്നിത്തല; സ്ത്രീകളുടെ മനസ്സില്‍ നേരിയ പോറല്‍പോലും ഉണ്ടാകരുത്‌|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/ramesh-chennithala-regrets-his-controversial-remarks-1.5039760|access-date=2020-09-09|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Citation|title=Chief Ministers, Ministers, and Leaders of Opposition of Kerala|last=|publisher=Secratriat of [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Kerala Legislature]]|year=2018|location=[[Thiruvananthapuram]]|url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/14kla/chief%20ministers,%20ministers,%20leaders%20of%20opposition.pdf}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Ramesh Chennithala}}
* [http://www.kpcc.org.in Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/development-funds-eluding-scheduled-castes-chennithala/article4207115.ece News Report]
*{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19901115-hindi-champions-discovers-a-hero-in-kerala-mp-ramesh-chennithala-813266-1990-11-15|title=Southern mastery - Indiascope News - Issue Date: Nov 15, 1990|website=indiatoday.in|access-date=2020-12-25}}
*{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/dam-disclosures/article24937297.ece|title=Dam disclosures: on the Kerala floods|website=The Hindu|date=13 September 2018|access-date=2020-12-25|last1=Chennithala|first1=Ramesh}}
{{United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{13th LS members from Kerala}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chennithala, Ramesh}}
[[Category: 1956 births]]
[[Category: Living people]]
[[Category: Malayali politicians]]
[[Category: Indian National Congress politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:9th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:10th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:11th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:13th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category: Lok Sabha members from Kerala]]
[[Category: Kerala MLAs 1982–1987]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 2016–2021]]
[[Category: Kerala MLAs 2011–2016]]
[[Category: Leaders of the Opposition in Kerala]]
[[Category:Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram alumni]]

Ramesh Chennithala - Revision history

->Qwerfjkl (bot): clean up; fix CW Error #101: Ordinal numbers should be in regular text, not inside tags.

>CommonsDelinker: Removing RameshChennithala.jpg; it has been deleted from Commons by Ellin Beltz because: Copyright violation; see Commons:Licensing.

->Qwerfjkl (bot): clean up; fix CW Error #101: Ordinal numbers should be in regular text, not inside ^tags.