P. Prasad, Kerala’s New Agriculture Minister

Kerala Government: P Prasad of the CPI on Thursday (20 May 2021) swore in as the agriculture minister in the newly formed Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet. 

About P Prasad 

Many of us may already know that P Prasad has a good knowledge not only in agriculture but also in many other fields.  Moreover, he led many environment related protests such as the agitation against the Aranmula International Airport project in Pathanamthitta. He has also played a leading role in the Plachimada Coca-Cola struggle. He was able to give a new face to the anti-sand mining movement in the coastal areas of Arattupuzha and Thrikkunnapuzha in Alappuzha district with the participation of environmental activists. He is a proponent of value addition in agrarian sector to combat the crisis faced by farmers, so that farmers get better price for their labour. 

He is a politician, social worker and environmentalist.  He has been selected to the second cabinet of Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, as everyone wished.  He succeeded P Sunil Kumar as the Minister of Agriculture. 

Prasad was born in the village of Palamel Matappally in Alappuzha district. He has been an active member of AISF since his school and college days. He was the State President of the Student Movement, later  he was become the District Secretary of the CPI, Pathanamthitta and currently he is the State Executive Member. Prasad is very fond of reading and this habit of reading is in fact his asset.  

A communist who did justice to all the responsibilities entrusted to him by the party. On the soil of Gujarat, which was blessed with Gandhiji's birth,  Prasad was the hero who fought alongside Medha Patkar in the front line of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, who fought tirelessly against the arrogance of those who evicted the adivasis for development. 

He was the additional Private Secretary to the Minister of Forests Binoy Vishwam and was the Unit Manager of Janayugam. He had contested in Harippad constituency last time with the assurance that he would lose. 

Congratulations P Prasad sir for this new role.