A.T. Pathrose – The elected member of Kerala assembly elections who couldn’t become an MLA

A.T. Pathrose was a politician from Kerala associated with Kerala Congress. Better known as a living legend, he was 87 during the declaration of general elections 2019. His name has so much significance when it comes to regional politics. For the last few decades he owned a unique record of being the only living politician & elected member of 1965 state assembly elections who didn’t get opportunity to sworn in as MLA. This unfortunate incident happened when the body was prematurely dissolved without giving opportunity to elected members to take oath. So despite being elected, Pathrose couldn’t become an MLA. He unsuccessfully contested 1967 elections too, and lost to CPI candidate, and got more active in local politics later. He held the record till his death in 2020.

He won 1967 state assembly elections spending money from his own pocket

A.T. Pathrose was born in Muvattupuzha of present-day Ernakulam district in 1932 into a rich Christian family. He was fondly called Chellappan at home. He completed his law studies and also practised Kerala High Court in 1963 before he started a roof tile factory. He also became a member of local Panchayat the same year marking his political career. In 1965 he successfully contested state assembly elections, but couldn’t become MLA when the body was prematurely dissolved. No political party or group could claim majority. He was defeated by CPI candidate in the next state elections and never contested again. During his last years he had retired from politics and social life and has been living at a flat in Edapally till his death on 16th May 2020 during Corona season lockdown. His wife Leena is deceased now, and the couple has 4 children.

A. T. Pathrose – Some interesting facts

1. Till 2020 May he was the only living elected member of Kerala state politics, who was not lucky enough to become a legislator.

2. Pathrose completed his law studies from Kolkata and while studying there he once successfully contested students elections in association with Communist party. It was the first defeat of Congress party in students’ elections in Bengal and representatives of then CM B. C. Roy didn’t give permission to take power of student’s political body .

3. He was the first candidate of Kerala Congress party and hence one of the first elected members of the party too. He was serving as the Panchayat President of Maneed then.

4. He was unexpectedly selected by the leader K. M. George when he was given a welcome function by Maneed Panchayat. 

5. Muvattupuzha assembly constituency consisted of 7 Panchayats and party gave him 7000 rupees for election campaigns. But he didn’t accept the money and took 14000 rupees from his pocket to win the elections by a majority of 4270 votes. His friends, relatives and political associates also spent money for elections.

6. He defeated M. Parameswaran Nair of CPI and E.P. Paulose of Congress in 1965 elections as a Kerala Congress candidate, but got defeated by P.V. Abraham of CPI in 1967.

7. In 1965 state assembly elections, his party got 26 seats, Congress got 40, Marxist got 36 and Muslim league with 12. Thus none of the parties could win majority. The assembly was dissolved by then President Dr. Zakir Hussain taking advice from Kerala governor V. V. Giri.

8. Many of the elected members of 1965 state assembly elections successfully contested elections and got elected also. But Pathrose couldn’t make it and was the last member of the group of those 25 unfortunate elected members. Many of those elected members had joined assembly earlier.

9. Though he couldn’t make big at state level and national level politics, he remained a popular local leader, and served as Panchayat president for 18 years. He also chaired many committees and unions.

10. Noted journalist T. J. S. George is his brother-in-law.