Portfolios: Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes  and Backward Classes; Law; Culture; Parliamentary Affairs; KSFDC

Shri. A. K. Balan, MLA from Tarur is serving as Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, Law, Culture and Parliamentary Affairs in the LDF led ministry headed by Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan. Shri. Balan entered politics through students’ movement activities. He was Secretary and President of S.F.I. State Committee (1979-1982); Chairman, Thalassery Brennan College Union (1973-74); President, Palakkad District Council (1989-91); Chairman, K.S.F.E. (1996-2001); District President and Secretary, C.I.T.U. Palakkad; All India Executive Committee Member and State Vice-President, C.I.T.U.; State Secretariat and Central Committee Member, C.P.I. (M).  He was elected to Parliament from Ottappalam (1980-85) and served as Member for Estimates Committee and Defence Consultation Committee.

In 1972, he led Kozhikode Thottakkad Excess Land Agitation and had been imprisoned for 30 days in Kannur Central Jail. Later he also led agitation for a University Centre in Thalasseri; to resume the shift system in colleges; to provide educational concessions to parallel college students; and for enhancing educational concessions to students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities. He was Minister for Welfare of Backward and Scheduled Communities and Electricity during 2006-11 in the previous LDF ministry. Previously elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2001, 2006 and 2011. He was born to Kelappan and Kunhi on 3rd August 1948 at Nadapuram.

Wife          : Dr. P. K. Jameela (Rtd. DHS)
Children   : Two sons (Nikhil Balan and Naveen Balan)