P. J. Joseph

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = P. J. Joseph

| image = P.J Joseph.jpg

| imagesize =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1941|06|10|df=yes}}

| alma_mater = SB College Changanasserry St. Thomas College, Thrissur

| birth_place = Purapuzha, Kingdom of Travancore, British India
(present day Idukki, Kerala, India)

| nationality = Indian

| residence = Purapuzha, Kerala

| office = Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly

| term_start = 11 May 2006

| term_end =

| predecessor = P. T. Thomas

| successor =

| constituency = Thodupuzha

| office2 = Chairman Of Kerala Congress

| vicepresident =

| term_start2 = 27 April 2021

| term_end2 =

| office3 = Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly

| term_start3 = 17 September 1970

| term_end3 = 23 March 1991

| constituency3 = Thodupuzha

| predecessor3 = K. C. Zacharia

| successor3 = P. T. Thomas

| term_start4 = 20 May 1996

| term_end4 = 10 May 2001

| constituency4 = Thodupuzha

| predecessor4 = P. T. Thomas

| successor4 = P. T. Thomas

| office5 = Minister for Water Resources, Irrigation and Inland Navigation, Government of Kerala

| term_start5 = 23 May 2011

| term_end5 = 20 May 2016

| constituency5 = Thodupuzha

| predecessor5 = N. K. Premachandran

| successor5 = Mathew T. Thomas

| office6 = Minister for Public Works, Government of Kerala

| term_start6 = 17 August 2009

| term_end6 = 30 April 2010

| constituency6 = Thodupuzha

| predecessor6 = Mons Joseph

| successor6 = V. K. Ebrahimkunju

| term_start7 = 17 May 2006

| term_end7 = 4 September 2006

| constituency7 = Thodupuzha

| predecessor7 = M. K. Muneer

| successor7 = T. U. Kuruvilla

| term_start8 = {{Start date|1996|05|df=yes}}

| term_end8 = May 2001

| constituency8 = Thodupuzha

| predecessor8 = C. T. Ahammed Ali

| successor8 = M. K. Muneer

| office9 = Minister for Education, Government of Kerala

| term_start9 = {{Start date|1996|05|df=yes}}

| term_end9 = May 2001

| constituency9 = Thodupuzha

| predecessor9 = E. T. Muhammed Basheer

| successor9 = Nalakath Soopy

| term_start10 = 28 December 1981

| term_end10 = {{End date|1982|03|17|df=yes}}

| constituency10 = Thodupuzha

| predecessor10 = Baby John

| successor10 = T. M. Jacob

| office11 = Minister for Revenue and Housing, Government of Kerala

| term_start11 = 28 December 1981

| term_end11 = {{End date|1987|03|25|df=yes}}

| constituency11 = Thodupuzha

| predecessor11 = P. S. Sreenivasan

| successor11 = P. S. Sreenivasan

| office12 = Minister for Home Affairs, Government of Kerala

| term_start12 = 16 January 1978

| term_end12 = {{End date|1978|09|15|df=yes}}

| constituency12 = Thodupuzha

| predecessor12 = K. M. Mani

| successor12 = K. M. Mani

| party = Kerala Congress

| spouse = {{Marriage|Dr. Santha Joseph|1971-2023}}

| children = 4

| website =

| footnotes =

| incumbent =

}}

{{Indian name|Joseph|Palathinal Joseph}}Palathinal Joseph Joseph (born 10 June 1941) is an Indian politician from Kerala Congress serving as the Member of the Legislative Assembly from Thodupuzha Assembly Constituency in Kerala.{{Cite web |title=Members - Kerala Legislature |url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/13kla/members/p_j_joseph.htm |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=www.niyamasabha.org}}

A former cabinet minister, Joseph entered Kerala politics through Kerala Congress in 1968.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stateofkerala.in/niyamasabha/p_j_joseph.php|title=Kerala State - Everything about Kerala}}

Early life

P. J. Joseph was born on 10 June 1941 in a Syro-Malabar Nasrani family to Palathinal Joseph and Annamma at Purapuzha in Idukki District in central Kerala.{{Cite web|url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/13kla/members/p_j_joseph.htm|title = Members - Kerala Legislature}}

He married Dr. Santha Joseph (died 2023), retired as Additional Director, Kerala Health Department, on 15 September 1971. The couple has four children, three sons and one daughter, named as Er.Apu John Joseph, Dr. Anu Yamuna, Antony Joseph and the late Jomon Joseph.{{Cite web |title=PJ Joseph Son Death: Congress leader PJ Joseph's younger son dies of heart attack | Kochi News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kerala-congress-leader-pj-josephs-younger-son-dies-of-heart-attack/articleshow/79324823.cms |website=The Times of India}} Jomon Joseph, the youngest, suffered from Down's Syndrome, and died due to a massive heart attack in 2020 aged 34.

Political career

Joseph entered Kerala politics through Kerala Congress in 1968.

P. J. Joseph contested and won his first election from Thodupuzha to the Kerala legislative assembly. He won these elections on ten occasions (1970, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1996, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021).http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_4.htm 4th KLAhttp://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_5.htm 5th KLAhttp://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_6.htm 6th KLAhttp://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_7.htm 7th KLAhttp://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_8.htm 8th KLAhttp://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_10.htm 10th KLAhttp://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_12.htm 12th KLAhttp://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_13.htm 13th KLAhttp://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/mem_1_14.htm 14th KLA He held various ministerial positions within the Government of Kerala.http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/13kla/members/p_j_joseph.htm P. J. Joseph MLA

=As Home Minister (1978)=

Joseph's first time as a Minister was in 1978 as Home Minister in A. K. Antony's ministry. He served this role for nearly 8 months. He resigned the position for his colleague K.M Mani.

=As Revenue minister (1981-1987)=

Since 1981 Joseph became Revenue minister in K. Karunakaran's ministry. Joseph was Revenue minister between 1981 and 1982 and 1982–1987.

=As Education minister (1996-2001) =

In E. K. Nayanar's ministry between (1996 and 2001) Joseph was Education minister. He was instrumental in delinking Pre Degree from Colleges and merged with School Education as +2.

= PWD minister (2006-2010) =

He was short-term PWD minister in V. S. Achuthanandan's ministry in 2006 and 2010. He resigned twice. The first time he was accused of misbehaviour with a lady co-passenger. He was acquitted by the court. The second time was for leaving Left Democratic Front for united Kerala congress. It was after 23 years, Joseph's party again merged with Kerala Congress (M) and an alliance member of United Democratic Front (UDF).

=[[Kerala Congress (Joseph)]]=

In 1979 he parted ways with Kerala congress leader K. M. Mani to form a Kerala Congress (Joseph) new party. However, in 1985 Kerala congress leaders K. M. Mani (from Kerala Congress (M)), P. J. Joseph from Kerala Congress (Joseph), R. Balakrishna Pillai (from Kerala Congress (B)) and their parties merged forming the united Kerala Congress. This party split in 1987. P. J. Joseph continued in United Democratic Front (UDF) till 1989. He contested the Lok Sabha at Muvattupuzha and Idukki in 1989 and 1991, but was unsuccessful. Kerala Congress (Joseph) issue raised in Muvattupuzha Lok Sabha seat made him leave the alliance and join LDF. Since 1991 Joseph's party became part of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) as an alliance.

In 2010, after 23 years, Joseph's party again merged with Kerala Congress (M) and an alliance member of United Democratic Front (UDF).

On 30 April 2010, Joseph resigned from the LDF government and declared his party's merger with K. M. Mani's party. After UDF's win in Kerala Legislative Assembly's election in 2011, Oommen Chandy became Chief Minister of Kerala. Joseph was appointed minister for the 7th time, now with the portfolio of irrigation; he completed his term in 2016.{{Cite web|title=Kerala Congress(J) splits, PJ Joseph resigns|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/pj-joseph-resigns-kerala-congress-j-splits/20100430.htm|access-date=2020-09-29|website=Rediff|language=en}}

=Chairman Of Kerala Congress=

A power struggle erupted in the party between Jose K. Mani faction and P. J. Joseph fraction. The Election Commission intervened and it ruled in favor of Jose K Mani. Later, the faction led by P.J Joseph merged with Kerala Congress.

On 27 April an online meeting was convened by the party leadership in Thodupuzha and P.J Joseph was chosen as party chairman.{{Cite web |title=പി.ജെ.ജോസഫ് കേരള കോൺഗ്രസ് ചെയർമാൻ |lang=ml |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2021/04/27/pj-joseph-elected-kerala-congress-chairman.html}}

=Controversies=

Joseph resigned from the Kerala Cabinet on 4 September 2006 as he was accused of misbehaviour with a lady co-passenger on a Kingfisher flight. He was acquitted by court on 11 May 2009 due to insufficient evidence.{{Cite news|last=Scaria|first=Joe A.|title=Joseph acquitted in misbehaviour case|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/joseph-acquitted-in-misbehaviour-case/articleshow/4510004.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2020-09-29}}{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/05/stories/2006090509560100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313112042/http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/05/stories/2006090509560100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 March 2007 |title=Joseph steps down; Kuruvilla named new Kerala Congress(J) Minister | location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |date=5 September 2006}}{{Cite news|last=Suchithra|first=shakeela|title=Allegations against P J Joseph : Biju Ramesh reveals more on bar scam|work=youtube.com|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xmlMbF_nMg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/6xmlMbF_nMg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-22}}{{cbignore}}

He instituted the Gandhian Studies Centre and the Gandhi Centre for Sustainable Development.{{cite news |date=7 February 2006 |title=Adopt organic farming methods |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/07/stories/2006020705410300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313111620/http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/07/stories/2006020705410300.htm |archive-date=13 March 2007}}{{cite news |date=31 October 2006 |title=Declare Kerala an organic farming State: Joseph |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103104881700.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026121500/http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103104881700.htm |archive-date=26 October 2012}}

References

External links

https://www.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/election-commission-freezes-kerala-congress-m-randila-symbol-1.5214284
https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/kottayam/2020/11/12/kottayam-kerala-congress-dispute-about-party-symbol.html
[https://m.deepika.com/article/news-detail/574267 കേരള കോണ്‍ഗ്രസ്-എം എന്ന പേരും രണ്ടില ചിഹ്നവും: സ്റ്റേ 31 വരെ]
[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/hc-stays-kcm-symbol-allotment/article 32582818.ece]
[https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/-two leaves-symbol-allotted-jose-k-mani-p-j-joseph-to-file-appeal-1.5018852]
[https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/news/kerala/kerala- congress-jacob-splits-johny-nellore-groups-to-merge-with-p-j-joseph-faction-1.4547638]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20071104040714/http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/02/stories/2007110253680400.htm The Hindu, More time given to complete probe]
{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20070711212738/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2006/06/15/stories/2006061516060100.htm The Hindu Online, LDF rejects charges against Joseph]}}
[http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/08/26/stories/2003082600611700.htm The Hindu Businessline, Draft policy on organic farming in Kerala to be ready soon]
[http://www.ashanet.org/library/articles/hindu071799.html Ashanet, An educative experiment]