J. Chitharanjan

{{Short description|Indian politician and labor leader}}

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = | name = J. Chitharanjan

| office = Member of the Rajya Sabha

| term_start = 1997

| term_end = 2003

| office2 = Minister of Health, Government of Kerala

| term_start2 = 11 April 1977

| term_end2 = 18 November 1978

| predecessor2 = N. K. Balakrishnan

| successor2 = K.P. Prabhakaran

| constituency2 = Chathannoor

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1927|10|22}}

| birth_place = Kollam Kerala, India

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2008|6|13|1927|10|22}}

| death_place =

| party = Communist Party of India

| spouse = Shrimati L. Ambiga Chitharanjan

| children = 1 son, 2 daughters

| alma_mater = Union Christian College, Alwaye

| occupation =

| footnotes ={{cite news |title=CPI leader Chitharanjan dead |work=The Hindu |date=14 June 2008 }}[http://rajyasabha.nic.in/kiosk/whoswho/alpha_c8.htm CHITHARANJAN, SHRI J.] Rajya Sabha. Retrieved on 2008-06-16.[http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/ministers49_first.htm Ministries Since 1957 (After the formation of Kerala State)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108020129/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/ministers49_first.htm |date=8 January 2010 }}. Information & Public Relations Department of Kerala. Retrieved on 2008-06-16.

}}

J. Chitharanjan (22 October 1927 – 13 June 2008) was an Indian labor leader, politician, a leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI). He was the president of CPI's Trade Union wing AITUC, a Minister in the state and was a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Chitharanjan was elected to Kerala Assembly in 1977, 1980 and 1987 from his home district of Kollam.

His parents were Janardhanan Asan and Meenakshi Amma. His electoral life started with a contest with his uncle Divakarappanikker who was an important Congress leader.