Thiruvananthapuram Union

Origin and Growth

The establishment of taluk unions within the organization was decided during the 18th annual general body meeting of the S.N.D.P. Yogam. Following this decision, the first union was established in Karunagappally. Subsequently, the Thiruvananthapuram Taluk Union came into existence during the 1933–1935 tenure of C. Kesavan as the Yogam General Secretary. Peroorkada Branch No. 628 was the first branch formed under this union. Later, during the tenure of R. Sankar as General Secretary, the number of branches under the Thiruvananthapuram Union rose to nine.

Early Leadership and Transitions

Advocate Murukkumpuzha Kunjukrishnan, the first PSC member from the Ezhava community, was the first president of the Thiruvananthapuram Union, while Nanthancode Bhaskaran served as its first secretary. Later, when Murukkumpuzha Kunjukrishnan secured a government service appointment, a general meeting was convened to form a new governing body, and Adv. Raghavan took charge as president. In the annual general body meeting held in 1950, C. Chakrapani and Raghavan were elected as president and secretary, respectively.

Crises and Revival

The union's activities slowed down over time due to the inactivity of subsequent governing bodies. Prompted by this, workers submitted a petition to the then Yogam General Secretary, Prof. P.S. Velayudhan Master, demanding the strengthening of branch operations. Consequently, the union's governing body was dissolved, and Adv. Murukkumpuzha Raghavan, P. Bhasurangandan of Pettah, and V. Babukumar were appointed as administrators to coordinate its functions.

Under the leadership of this administrative committee, an annual general body meeting was convened in 1978. In this meeting, Dr. M.K. Sreedharan was elected as president and V. Babukumar as secretary. It was during this period, which coincided with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the S.N.D.P. Yogam, that the new committee succeeded in reviving several inactive branches and strengthening the operations of the Thiruvananthapuram Union.