 During the year 2001–2006 and from 2011–2016 in the United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala, he was the deputy opposition leader of the Left Democratic Front (LDF).During the 2006–2011 LDF government in Kerala, he was the Minister of Home Affairs and Tourism.He is also a politburo member of the CPI(M).He entered politics through the students wing of CPI(M) in 1970.