Shri C.M. Stephen political profile

STEPHEN, SHRI C. M.. B.A., B.L.  (Congress (I)—Karnataka, Gulbarga,1980]  s. of Shri E. Mathai; b. at Mavelikara, Alleppey District, Kerala, December 23, 1918; ed. at Bishop Hodges English High School, Mavelikara, Christian College, Alwaye, Government College, Trivandrum, St. Thomas College, Trichur and Law College, Trivandrum; m. Smt. Thankamma Stephen, 1947: 2 s. and 3 d.; Lawyer and Trade Unionist; while General Secretary, Travancore Students Federation, was arrested thrice and sentenced to imprisonment for organising students strike as part of the State’s people movement for responsible Government in erstwhile Travancore; State; was Owner and Managing Editor. “Powra Prabha”, a Malayalam daily which was banned for opposing the Maharaja’s attempt to declare Travancore an independent State; Union Minister of Communications since March 3, 1980; President, Quilon District Congress Committee; General Secretary and Treasurer, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee; Member, All India Congress Committee from 1952; Chairman, National Shipping Board; President of a number of Trade Unions for many years; President, Kerala Branch of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC); Treasurer, INTUC (National Centre); Member, Kerala Legislative Assembly, 1960-65; Member, Fifth Lok Sabha, 1971-77; Deputy Leader, Congress Parliamentary Party, 1975-77; Member, Estimates Committee for 2 terms; Chairman, Committee on Subordinate Legislation; Member, Sixth Lok Sabha, 1977-79; Chairman, (i) Public Accounts Committee, 1977-78; Leader, Congress (I) Parliamentary Party; Leader of Opposition, 1978-79; Member, Indian Delegation to (i) U.N.O., 1972; (ii) I.L.O., Geneva, and (iii) Parliamentary Conference, London.  

Special interests:  Trade Union Work, Journalism and political work.  

Publications:  Was Assistant Editor, “Financial News” (weekly) and “Hyderabad Bulletin” (daily), Owner and Managing Editor, “Powra Prabha” (daily), now Managing Editor, ”Socialist Labour” (weekly).  

Travels abroad:  U.S.A., U.K., Switzerland, Mexico, Libya, Yugoslavia, U.S.S.R., Italy and Japan.  

Permanent address:  Congress Bhavan, Quilon, Kerala.