R. Balakrishna Pillai (Keezhoote Raman Balakrishna Pillai)

R. Balakrishna Pillai was a politician who served as minister of the state of Kerala. He was a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly from the Kottarakara constituency in the Kollam district for almost three decades.

At the age of 25, Balakrishna Pillai joined the Indian National Congress (INC) party In 1960. In the same year (1960) he was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly from the Pathanapuram Assembly Constituency of Kollam district. He holds the record for becoming the youngest MLA of Kerala.

In 1977, he split from Kerala Congress to form Kerala Congress (B). Kerala Congress (B) has been part of both LDF and UDF over the years. R. Balakrishna Pillai was also a founder member of the United Democratic Front (UDF)

Pillai died on 3 May 2021, at Vijaya hospital in Kottarakkara. He was admitted to the hospital a few days earlier owing to respiratory issues and was on ventilator support.

Balakrishna Pillai was the son of Keezhoote Raman Pillai and Karthyayani Amma.

He was married to Vatsalakumari and has two daughters and a son. His son K. B. Ganesh Kumar, is a film actor and a politician. His wife Vatsalakumari died on 3 January 2018 aged 76.

R. Balakrishna Pillai has acted in two Malayalam movies in 1979 and 1980 - Vedikkettu and Ival Oru Naadody

He was the first Kerala minister to be imprisoned for corruption.