PALAKKAD: C Krishnakumar is the BJP candidate in Palakkad for the by-polls. Big names were earlier in consideration but the leadership finally zeroed in on the local leader generating mixed responses from supporters. However, political analysts with a clear understanding of the intricate politics of Palakkad would applaud BJP's decision to field C Krishnakumar.

A front fighter of the Sangh Parivar movements from a young age, Krishnakumar is known for his grassroots-level work and mostly for being a great organizer. He is a household name in the locality and knows the nooks and corners of the city like the back of his hand. He may not have attracted the media spotlight like other candidates, but it would be a gruesome error to write him off. If anybody in BJP is capable of a Coup d'etat in Palakkad, it is undoubtedly Krishnakumar.

Krishnakumar entered politics in 1984. He was a staunch Sangh worker who held various responsibilities of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. He was the Yuva Morcha Palakkad District President from 2003 to 2006 and was later inducted into the National Executive Member of Yuva Morcha from 2004 to 2006. He rose to prominence after being BJP District General Secretary from 2006 to 2009. He also served as BJP Palakkad District President from 2009 to 2015. In 2015, Krishnakumar was selected as the state secretary of the BJP.

He served as the Palakkad municipal councillor for four consecutive terms and is the former Vice Chairman of Palakkad Municipal Corporation.

However, the apogee in his political career came when Krishnakumar turned into a nightmare for political veteran VS Achuthanandan in the 2016 Malampuzha elections. Despite a fierce contest, the BJP man ended up second, only after shaking the CPM fortress. VS's vote share plummeted from 57% to 46%. C Krishna Kumar contested again in 2021 election from Malampuzha and increased the vote to 50,200 from 46,157 in 2019.