J. Mercykutty Amma (born 30 September 1955) is an Indian

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...

and she was the Minister for Fisheries, Harbour Engineering, Cashew Industry; Fisheries University,

Government of Kerala Government of Kerala is the Subnational administrative division, subnational government of the Indian state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who selects all the other ministers. The chief minister and their most senior mini ...

. She was representing the Kundara constituency in Kollam,

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

Personal life

J. Mercykutty Amma was born to Jainamma and Francis at Munrothuruthu on 30 September 1955. She is married to B. Thulaseedhara Kurup, the President, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Kollam. She resides at Keralapuram, Kollam.

Education

Mercykutty Amma is a postgraduate in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 2 ...

and has completed

LL.B. Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...

course.

Political career

Mercykutty Amma occupied her seat after a long journey in left wing politics beginning as a student activist. She entered politics as an activist of Students Federation of India (SFI) during 1974. She was SFI office bearer at Fatima Matha National College, Kollam and Sree Narayana College, Kollam. She served as SFI State Vice President and All India Vice President up to 1985. She held various positions in CITU and in Communist Party of India (Marxist). Smt. Mercykutty Amma was the District Committee President of Matsyathozhilali (Fishermen) Federation, Kollam up to 2012 and was the State Vice President during 1987 to 2005. She was also the District treasurer of Coir Workers Union, Kollam up to 1989 and the President of Khadi Workers Federation. She was also the Chairperson of Kerala State Co-operative Federation for Fisheries Development Ltd. (Matsyafed). Now, Member, State Committee CPI (M); All India Vice President and State Secretary, CITU; Vice President, Kerala Cashew Workers Centre. She was first elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1987 (26 March 1987 – 17 June 1991). She was again elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1996 (20 May 1996 – 13 May 2001). Mercykutty Amma was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly third time in 2016 and became Minister in charge of the portfolios of Fisheries, Harbour Engineering and Cashew Industry. She had contested the

2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election The 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election was held in Kerala on 6 April 2021 to elect 140 members to the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly. The results were declared on 2 May. The election saw the incumbent Left Democratic Front (LDF) reta ...

from

Kundara Kundara is a census town in Kerala and is part of the Kollam Metropolitan Area, India. Kundara is situated 13 km east of Kollam city, 14 km west of Kottarakkara, and 24 km north of Paravur. Kundara is significant for its histor ...

assembly constituency and was defeated by P. C. Vishnunath of

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British E ...

by 4,454 votes.

References

1957 births Living people Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from Kerala Women in Kerala politics 20th-century Indian women politicians 20th-century Indian politicians Politicians from Kollam district 21st-century Indian women politicians 21st-century Indian politicians {{Kerala-CPIndiaMarxist-politician-stub