Sabarinathan: From Techie to Councillor, A Decade in Politics
Until 2015, K. S. Sabarinathan was largely unknown in the political landscape of Kerala. The void left by the passing of his father, G. Karthikeyan, in the Aruvikkara constituency, necessitated a successor. In Kerala, where it is customary for a family member to contest after a prominent leader’s demise, many speculated whether his wife, M.T. Sulekha, a distinguished Kerala University official and an eloquent orator, would enter the fray. However, the chosen name was unexpected: his elder son, Sabarinathan. No one had previously encountered him on the political paths charted by his father, Karthikeyan, who had ascended from KSU to KPCC. Indeed, Sabarinathan had no discernible political background or prior involvement in activism to his credit.
Sabarinathan, who completed his education at Loyola School and the College of Engineering in Thiruvananthapuram, subsequently ventured to Bengaluru, where he immersed himself in the IT sector for a period. His academic pursuits continued with an MBA from Gurugram, followed by practical experience in the health and nutrition sectors under the aegis of the Tata Trust, part of the extensive Tata Group. It is highly improbable that his father, Karthikeyan, would have ever envisioned his son transitioning from this professional trajectory to become a politician, canvassing votes through the intricate bylanes and main thoroughfares of Aruvikkara. Until then, Sabarinathan epitomized the common narrative of politicians’ children who pursue advanced education and excel in the professional world.
Sabarinathan’s entry into politics was met with numerous queries, including allegations of leveraging a sympathy wave. His formidable opponents in that by-election were seasoned political stalwarts: M. Vijayakumar of the CPM and O. Rajagopal of the BJP. Following in the footsteps of his father, who had successfully challenged both the CPM and RSP, Sabarinathan commenced his political journey with a triumph over the CPM. K.S. Sabarinathan achieved a resounding victory, securing a magnificent majority of 10,128 votes.
For Sabarinathan, accustomed to the structured environment of the tech world, the legislative assembly floor presented a novel experience. Gradually, he assimilated into the parliamentary discourse, learning to articulate a firm and impactful voice within the house. Although he initially entered politics under the ‘father’s son’ mantle, in the subsequent general election held the very next year (2016), Sabarinathan further solidified his position by defeating A.A. Rasheed of the CPM with an even more substantial majority of 21,314 votes. However, he was unable to sustain this remarkable winning streak in subsequent electoral contests.
Today, it is not the former tech professional but Advocate K.S. Sabarinathan, a practicing lawyer in the Kerala High Court, who has emerged as the UDF representative from Kowdiar in Thiruvananthapuram, embracing the renewed role of a dedicated public servant and municipal corporation councillor.