Kummanam Rajasekharan is an Indian politician and former Governor of Mizoram. He began his political career as an activist of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Sangh Parivar in Kerala in 1970. From 2015 to 2018, he was the state president of Bharatiya Janata Party in Kerala. He is also the first BJP leader from Kerala to become Governor. Rajasekharan worked as a journalist between 1974 and 1976, before joining the Food Corporation of India. He became a high-ranking official of the Kerala Vishva Hindu Parishad during that time. In 1987, he resigned to become a full-time Sangh Parivar worker, while being instrumental in spearheading Kerala's VHP, Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti, Balasadanams, and Ekal Vidyalayas. Rajaseharan has been the secretary of Hindu Aikya Vedi, Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam, General-Secretary and Chairman of Janmabhumi. In 2019, he was conferred with a Doctor of Letters degree by the Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabrmal Tibrewala University for honouring his contributions to the field of social work.
In 1974, Rajasekharan joined Deepika news-daily as sub-editor, embarking a career in journalism. He later worked in different new-dailies such as Rastravaartha, Keraladesam, Kerala Bhooshanam and Kerala Dwani. In 1976, he took a break from journalism and joined Food Corporation of India as a government servant. In 1979, he became Kottayam district Secretary of Vishva Hindu Parishad and later became its state Joint Secretary in 1981. He resigned the job from FCI in 1987 and became a pracharak in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Political career
He came into contact with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh during his student days. In 1979, he became the district-secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and later was associated with many Hindu organisations in Kerala in various capacities. In 1983, he participated in the movement against 'Nilakkal land encroachment' and worked for 'Paliyam declaration' pronounced by prominent Hindu religious scholars. In 2012, he participated in the agitation against KGS Aranmula International Airport. He was the Chief Patron of Aranmula Heritage Village Action Council which protested against this airport.
In 1981, became State Joint-Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
In 1983, was appointed as General-Convener of Nilakkal Action Council and lead the mass agitation against the encroachment in Nilakkal.
In 1987, he contested from Thiruvananthapuram constituency as Hindu Munnani candidate.
In 1988, he was appointed General-Secretary of Guruvayoor Temple Action Council and led agitation to take out Jacob Thampi from managing committee of Guruvayoor Temple.
In 1989, was appointed Editor of Janmabhumi daily, Kochi.
In 1992, was designated General-Convenor of Hindu Aikya Vedi.
In 1996, was appointed Organising-Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad
In 1998, was appointed General-Convener of Sivagiri Samara Sahaya Samithi to assist the agitations led by Swami Prakashananda protesting against his removal from presidency of Sivagiri Madom.
In 2003, lead a mass agitation against the Marad massacre.
In 2007, was designated as Managing Director of Janmabhumi daily.
In 2018, was appointed as the Governor of Mizoram on May 25. He resigned from the post on 8 March 2019.
In 2019, contested Lok Sabha elections 2019 from Thiruvananthapuram constituency against former Union minister Shashi Tharoor and former state minister C. Divakaran. Tharoor emerged the winner with a margin of 99,989 votes over Rajasekharan.
Marad massacre
On the evening of 2 May 2003, a group of fishermen were attacked by a mob armed with swords and deadly weapons with the help of local political support. Nine people were killed in that attack. Many were seriously wounded. Mass protests were carried out by various Hindu organisations under the banner of the Hindu Aikya Vedi, against the violence. Kerala government decided to announce compensation for victims' families and ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. As the General-Secretary of Hindu Aikya Vedi, RSS, Kummanam Rajasekharan helped the victims of the massacre.
