Saji Cherian

Saji Cherian, who was born on May 28, 196,5 works as an Indian politician from Kerala who occupies a top leadership position within the Communist Party of India Marxist). He has represented the Chengannur constituency in the Kerala Legislative Assembly since 2018, and he has served as a cabinet minister handling portfolios that included Fisheries, Culture, and Youth Affairs.

Cherian has also been at the centre of political controversies over public remarks, which he subsequently retracted after facing public criticism.

He continues to serve as an MLA and state minister until the year 2026.

By Rashmi | Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 12:48:55 PM [IST]

Saji Cherian Biography

Saji Cherian was born on 28 May 1965 in Alappuzha district, Kerala. He started his educational journey at Bishop Moore College, located in Mavelikkara, and at Kerala Law Academy Law College situated in Thiruvananthapuram, before he entered the political field through his involvement with student and youth organizations, which included the Students’ Federation of India and the Democratic Youth Federation of India while he later became an organizational leader for the CPI(M) party.

Before he became a legislator, Cherian made his first electoral attempt when he ran for office in Chengannur during the 2006 election, but lost the election. He won the 2018 by-election from the same constituency, which marked his entry into the Kerala Legislative Assembly, and he achieved reelection in 2021, which helped him establish his political foundation.

He received his appointment as Minister for Fisheries, Culture, and Youth Affairs in May 2021 to serve in the Second Pinarayi Vijayan ministry. In July 2022, he resigned from the cabinet after controversy over remarks perceived as derogatory toward the Constitution, a decision that led to legal challenges and later reinstatement as minister in January 2023 after court clearance.

Cherian maintained his role as Chengannur MLA while serving as Minister for Fisheries, Culture, and Youth Affairs during the years 2024 and 2025, which included his work in state governance and legislative activities as well as public projects that focused on his ministerial duties. He managed the execution of existing policies and the execution of development projects across all areas that his ministries handled.

He became the Minister for Fisheries, Culture, and Youth Affairs in the Second Pinarayi Vijayan government when he assumed office in 2021. He resigned in 2022 and was subsequently reinstated as minister in 2023, continuing his service in the cabinet and legislative assembly.

Saji Cherian works as Chengannur MLA while he holds ministerial duties in the Kerala government, which he will continue until 2026.

Saji Cherian Personal Life

Full Name	Saji Cherian
Date of Birth	28 May 1965 (Age 60)
Place of Birth	Kozhuvalloor, Alappuzha district
Party Name	Communist Party Of India (marxist)
Education	Graduate
Profession	Indian Politician
Father's Name	T. T. Cherian
Mother's Name	Sosamma Cherian
Spouse's Name	Christeena S. Cherian
Children	3 Daughter(s)

Saji Cherian Net Worth

Net Worth

₹65.17 LAKHS

ASSETS

₹68.1 LAKHS

Liabilities

₹2.93 LAKHS

Interesting Facts about Saji Cherian

On 17 August 2018, Saji Cherian controversial Facebook post went viral among social media, stating his helplessness and request to the central government, regarding his constituency, which was at a highly dangerous zone during 2018 Kerala floods. Aftermath, actions were taken in order to save Chengannur.

Political Timeline of Saji Cherian

2025-2026: Serving as MLA and state minister.
2023: Re-inducted as minister.
2022: Resigned as minister.
2021: Saji Cherian was appointed the Minister for Fisheries, Harbour Engineering cultural affairs and cinema in Pinarayi Vijayan ministry 2021.
2021: Saji Cherian, a senior CPM leader who keeps cordial relationship with the Church, won MLA election from Chengannur. Known as the ‘Gateway of Sabarimala’, Chengannur.
2018: Saji Cherian has contested Kerala Legislative Assembly from Chengannur constituency in 2006 and lost to P. C. Vishnunath of Indian National Congress by a margin of 5321 votes. He was elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly from Chengannur constituency in the by-election held on 28 May 2018 necessitated by the demise of K. K. Ramachandran Nair. He won with a margin of 20956 votes defeating Adv. D. Vijayakumar of Indian National Congress. Saji Cheriyan has recorded the best winning-margin for an LDF candidate in an Assembly election in Chengannur.
2006: Saji Cherian had fought the assembly election from Chengannur, but lost to P.C. Vishnunath of the Congress. He also held positions in the Democratic Youth Federation of India, District Cooperative Bank, University of Kerala, District Sports Council, and so on. He is also active in the palliative care movement.

Saji Cherian Early Life

2001: Saji Cherian was elected Chengannur area secretary of the CPI(M) party. He was also nominated to the party district secretariat in the same year. Aside from holding party positions, he was elected to the district panchayat from Mulakuzha division.
1995: Saji Cherian's entry into politics was through Students' Federation of India, the student cadre of CPI(M), of which he was once the Alappuzha district secretary and later the president. He rose through the ranks and went on to become the district president of Democratic Youth Federation of India, the youth wing of CPI(M). He represented Mulakuzha division in the district panchayat in 1995 and became chairman of the development standing committee in the local body.
1965: Saji Cherian was born on May 28, 1965 at Kozhuvalloor, Alappuzha district. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara. He married Christina Cherian and they have three daughters.

Disclaimer:The information provided on this page is sourced from various publicly available platforms including https://en.wikipedia.org/, https://sansad.in/ls, https://sansad.in/rs, https://pib.gov.in/, https://affidavit.eci.gov.in/ and the official websites of state assemblies respectively. While we make every effort to maintain the accuracy, comprehensiveness and timeliness of the information provided, we cannot guarantee the absolute accuracy or reliability of the content. The data presented here has been compiled without consideration of the objectives or opinions of individuals who may access it.