Raja Shri Pattom A. Thanu Pillai (Aged 85) born on 15 July 1885, was a participant in the Indian independence movement who later served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 22 February 1960 to 25 September 1962. He was known as the “Bhishmacharya” of Kerala politics.
After earning his degree in law, Thanu Pillai started his legal practice as an advocate. Under the influence of his mentor A. Narayana Pillai, he became attracted towards the newly formed Travancore State Congress and abandoned full-time practice in favour of agitating for Responsible Government. Following the Narayana Pillai sedition trial, he took over the leadership of the Indian National Congress in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.
Pattom Thanu Pillai remained one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress during the period when the Kingdom of Tranvancore became an independent state and later merged with Cochin to form Travancore-Cochin. On 3 June 1947, the United Kingdom accepted demands for partition and announced its intention to quit India within a short period. Following C. P. Ramaswami Iyer’s resignation, P. G. N. Unnithan chaired the Travancore Constitutional Reforms Committee. He relinquished office on 24 March 1948 when a people’s government led by Sri Pattom Thanu Pillai as Prime Minister took over.
Pattom Thanu Pillai was the first Prime Minister of the independent Travancore state. The Praja Socialist Party formed a coalition government along with the Indian National Congress, who had won 45 seats. Pattom Thanu Pillai became the fourth Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin with the support of the Indian National Congress on 16 March 1954. Fresh elections were held in 1960, and Pattom A. Thanu Pillai became the second Chief Minister of Kerala, as the head of a PSP-Congress-Muslim League coalition administration. He assumed office on 22 February 1960 and passed away on 27 July 1970.
Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
(1885 – 1970) – (Kerala)
Raja Shri Pattom A. Thanu Pillai (Aged 85) born on 15 July 1885, was a participant in the Indian independence movement who later served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 22 February 1960 to 25 September 1962. He was known as the “Bhishmacharya” of Kerala politics.
After earning his degree in law, Thanu Pillai started his legal practice as an advocate. Under the influence of his mentor A. Narayana Pillai, he became attracted towards the newly formed Travancore State Congress and abandoned full-time practice in favour of agitating for Responsible Government. Following the Narayana Pillai sedition trial, he took over the leadership of the Indian National Congress in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.
Pattom Thanu Pillai remained one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress during the period when the Kingdom of Tranvancore became an independent state and later merged with Cochin to form Travancore-Cochin. On 3 June 1947, the United Kingdom accepted demands for partition and announced its intention to quit India within a short period. Following C. P. Ramaswami Iyer’s resignation, P. G. N. Unnithan chaired the Travancore Constitutional Reforms Committee. He relinquished office on 24 March 1948 when a people’s government led by Sri Pattom Thanu Pillai as Prime Minister took over.
Pattom Thanu Pillai was the first Prime Minister of the independent Travancore state. The Praja Socialist Party formed a coalition government along with the Indian National Congress, who had won 45 seats. Pattom Thanu Pillai became the fourth Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin with the support of the Indian National Congress on 16 March 1954. Fresh elections were held in 1960, and Pattom A. Thanu Pillai became the second Chief Minister of Kerala, as the head of a PSP-Congress-Muslim League coalition administration. He assumed office on 22 February 1960 and passed away on 27 July 1970.
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