Thiruvananthapuram: Former minister K.P. Mohanan, who lost the elections to Health Minister K.K. Shylaja from Kuthuparambu, returned as a reporter covering the Assembly on Tuesday. Mr. Mohanan is reporting for Padayani, a Kannur-based evening daily started by his father P.R. Kurup, who represented Kuthuparambu and was a minister. Mr Mohanan is now the Chief Editor of Padayani.
He belongs to the Janata Dal (United), which now has no legislator, with both of their sitting MLAs, including Mr Mohanan, losing the elections. In the last Assembly, Mr Mohanan, occupied the front seat in the treasury benches as he was the legislative party leader of the JD(U). On Tuesday, he was seated among journalists in the media box.
Apart from being a journalist and a politician, Mr Mohanan was also a kalari performer. In October 2011, he was at the centre of a controversy after he lifted his leg and dhoti, while attempting to jump over the legislature benches in response to mocking from the Opposition members in the well of the House. Mr Mohanan defended his action as the response of a kalaripayattu fighter.
