V. K. Ebrahim Kunju

V. K. Ebrahimkunju was born on May 20, 1952, at Kongorpilly, Aluva, in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, to V. U. Khader and Chithumma. He bridged his way to public life through the Muslim Students Federation and the Muslim Youth League, climbing the party’s organisational ladder and eventually entering polling politics.

He had his first election to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2001, from the Mattancherry constituency, and was re-elected in 2006. After that, he got the Kalamassery assembly seat in 2011 and 2016, thus being recognized as one of the most important IUML legislators in central Kerala.

In 2005, Ebrahimkunju joined the United Democratic Front (UDF) cabinet as Minister for Industries and Social Welfare after the resignation of a senior colleague. He was later in the ministry from 2011 to 2016 as Minister for Public Works in Oommen Chandy’s cabinet, looking after the state infrastructure development by implementing some major projects.

He was not only a legislator but also a leader in various sectors such as education, trade, and workers' unions, which he used to deepen his influence and interact with the community in Kerala.

The later years of his life were marked by legal controversies surrounding the Palarivattom flyover corruption case, for which investigations by vigilance authorities had been conducted, and he was considered for prosecution with regard to the matter. Yet, he remained, albeit controversially, a respected strategist in the IUML.

By 2025, V. K. Ebrahimkunju had stepped down from active electoral politics but was still seen as a kingpin in the Indian Union Muslim League as well as a significant character in Kerala’s political saga. He died in January 2026 following a prolonged illness.