Kollam (Kerala): The history of the Communist Party of India (CPI) also marks the history of the Communist movement in India.
In 1964, when the CPI (United) split into CPI and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the CPI had inducted a woman minister -- the legendary Communist leader K R Gouri Amma. However, she soon decided to side with the CPI(M). Sixty two years later, the CPI has now set its records straight by chosing J Chinchu Rani as one of its four ministers in the Pinarayi 2.0 cabinet. The three other CPI ministers in the newly inducted LDF cabinet are men.
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It was Rani's electoral debut in the Assembly polls and she won from the Chadayamangalam constituency in Kollam district.
Born to Communist leader N Sreedharan and Jagadamma at Kollam Mundaykkal in in 1963, Rani first appeared in public sphere as a sports star, representing Kollam Sree Narayana Women’s College.
Later, she joined the All India Students Federation (AISF) as a student and reached the leadership role in the CPI’s student organisation. She was then elected as the youngest member of the Iravipuram Panchayath. She started her active political career as a member of the CPI Iravipuram local committee. Presently, Rani is a national council member and the state executive committee member of the of the CPI besides being the state president of Kerala Mahila Sangham.
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Rani has previously been elected to the Kollam Corporation and Kollam District Panchayath. She has also served as the chairperson of various committees. When the CPI fielded her as its candidate for Chadayamangalam, Rani was working as the chairperson of the State Poultry Corporation.
Rani is married to CPI Anchalumoodu constituency committee secretary D Sukeshan. Their son Nandu Sukeshan is an interior designer and daughter Nandana Rani is a Class XII student.
