Pleasant presence in Kerala politics 

Kerala politics has lost a prominent leader with the demise of prominent Congress leader and former minister CV Padmarajan. Although he had been away from public life in recent times due to age-related ailments, he was a person who had been present in the mainstream politics of Kerala for a long time. Padmarajan also served as the Chief Minister of Kerala as the Leader of the Legislative Assembly when K Karunakaran was injured in an accident and hospitalised. He was the President of the KPCC.

CV Padmarajan was a minister three times in the ministries of K Karunakaran and AK Antony and served commendably in various departments including Finance, Electricity, and Social Welfare. He also held many official positions including Vice Chairman of the State Planning Board. No matter what position Padmarajan held, he was always able to leave his own mark. He was called 'Padmarajan Vakeel' by his locals and colleagues as he was an accomplished lawyer. Although Padmarajan showed a slight bias towards the 'I Group' during the active group politics in the Congress, he had a special personality who upheld his own stand and was not ready to become anyone's pawn. Despite his gentle demeanour, he never hesitated to say what he had to say without any harshness.

Padmarajan became active in politics as the president of the Chathannoor Block Congress Committee. Later, he served as the vice president and then president of the Kollam DCC. Padmarajan was elected as an MLA from the Chathannoor constituency, which is generally left-leaning. Although Padmarajan later contested and lost from this constituency, he was able to lay a strong foundation for the Congress there. Padmarajan, who was a member of the K Karunakaran cabinet when he was first elected in 1982, resigned from it and became the KPCC president. He also led the party to a resounding victory in the Lok Sabha elections held while he was the president.

Padmarajan was the leader who took the initiative to build a headquarters building for the Congress in Thiruvananthapuram. He was one of the best collaborators in Kerala. Although there were some controversies over the Brahmapuram Diesel Power Plant while he was the Electricity Minister, he was able to maintain his personal integrity. Padmarajan was always a close friend of 'Kerala Kaumudi'. We join the grief of his family and party workers on the passing of CV Padmarajan.