U. Prathibha

K. R. Hari

​

​

(m. 2001;div. 2018)​

Adv Prathibha
Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 June 2016 (2016-06-02)
Children	1 son (Kanivu)
Occupation	politician

U. Prathibha is an Indian politician who is a member of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the current Member of the Legislative Assembly (M.L.A.) representing the Kayamkulam constituency ^[1] of Alappuzha district, Kerala. ^[2]

Personal life

Daughter of Sri. V. K. Purushothaman and Smt. J. Umayamma. Born at Thakazhy on 10 May 1977. She married K.R. Hari a Kerala State Electricity Board employee in 2001 and the couple has a son named Kanivu. In 2018, they have filed for Divorce before court. ^[3] In 2019, her former husband was found dead by Suicide. ^[4]

Political career

She came into politics through Students' Federation of India and entered electoral foray through local self-government. She was elected as a member in Thakazhy Grama Panchayat in 2000-2005. She became the President of Thakazhy Grama Panchayat during 2005- 2010. She was the president of Alappuzha District panchayat from 2010- 2015. ^[5] She was elected to 14th Legislative assembly and 15th Legislative assembly of Kerala from Kayamkulam Constituency in 2016 and got re-elected from there again in 2021. ^[6]

Kerala Legislative Assembly Election

Year	Constituency	Closest Rival	Majority (Votes)	Won/Loss
2016	Kayamkulam	Adv M Liju (INC)	11857	Won [7]
2021	Kayamkulam	Aritha Babu (INC)	6298	Won [8]

In 2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly Election, she defeated Adv. M. Liju of INC, with a majority of 11857 votes and in 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, she won against Aritha Babu of INC with a majority of 6298.

Controversies

In 2013, there was a corruption allegation against her while holding position of District panchayat President over land acquisition for construction of a Gender Park in Alappuzha and Kerala High Court stayed probe in this case. ^{[9] [10]} In 2020, during COVID-19 pandemic she caught in midst of a controversy after criticizing Journalists for reporting tussles between her and local Democratic Youth Federation of India workers. ^[11] In 2024, her son was arrested by Kerala Police alleging possession of Ganja and her stand to support her son became a controversy. ^{[12] [13] [14]}

References

1. "Niyamasabha" (PDF). 1 September 2020.
2. "Kerala Assembly Election 2016 Results". Kerala Legislature . Retrieved 8 June 2016.
3. "Prathibha Hari MLA's divorce case: couple directed to appear for counseling again". OnManorama. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
4. archive, From our online (9 July 2019). "U Prathibha MLA's husband found dead". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
5. John, Haritha (28 March 2021). "Penn and Politics: Society will be happy only when women are, says LDF's U Prathibha Hari". The News Minute. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
6. "Welcome to Kerala Legislature". www.niyamasabha.org. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
7. "Kayamkulam Assembly Election 2016 Latest News & Results". India.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
8. "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
9. Kanth, Ajay (4 February 2021). "MLAs who aren't in the clear". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
10. "Gender Park in Alappuzha to be functional".
11. "Covid-19: Kayamkulam MLA U Prathibha lands in controversy". The Times of India. 4 April 2020. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 21 March 2025.
12. "Official shifted after MLA's son booked in ganja case". The Times of India. 31 December 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 21 March 2025.
13. "Ganja case: Excise probe gives clean chit to MLA Prathibha's son". The Times of India. 1 March 2025. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 21 March 2025.
14. Bharat, E. T. V. (29 December 2024). "Kerala: CPI(M) MLA's Son Among 9 Held For Possessing Ganja, Legislator Denies Allegation". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 21 March 2025.