Biography

Constituency: Pathanapuram
Departments: Transport

Personal life

Shri. K B Ganesh Kumar was born on 25th  May 1966 in Kottarakkara, Kollam district to former Minister R. Balakrishna Pillai and Vatsala Balakrishna Pillai. He completed his BCom Degree course at Govt. Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram.  He became famous as a film actor. He is fluent in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.
Spouse: Mrs. Bindu Ganesh Kumar
Children: Mr. Aditya Krishnan Thampi, Mr. Rahul Nair, Master Devaraman

Life in the cinema

He made his acting debut with the film  “Irakal”, which was released in the year 1985. In the year 1987, played the role of a villain in the film Cheppu. He played notable roles in several films such as Raakuyilin Raagasadassil, Sangam, Oru mutthasi  Katha, and Commissioner. In the mid-1990s, he filled in Malayalam cinema with supporting roles and villainous roles. He has acted in more than 250 films.

He entered politics in the early 2000s.   He contested and won the 2001 assembly elections as a UDF candidate in Pathanapuram. In the UDF cabinet where AK Antony was the chief minister, he became the cabinet minister in charge of the transport department. Shri K. B. Ganesh Kumar became a full-time politician after being elected to the state assembly in 2001. Later, he acted in only a few films. He won the Best TV Actor award in the year 2007 for his role in the TV serial Veyil Madhavam. He won the State Award for Best Actor. Amrutha TV's serial Aliyanum Pengangalum won the Best Actor Serial award in the 2008 Frame Media Gallup Poll.

Political life

From the Pathanapuram Constituency, he was elected to  Kerala Legislative Assemblies in 2001,  2006, 2011, and  2016.

Positions held

Vice President of Kerala Congress (B).
Founder member, treasurer, and vice president of AMMA, the association of actors in the Malayalam film industry.
Founder and president of the Association of Malayalam TV Artists.
Founder and chairman of the Malayalam Television Fraternity.
Transport Minister (17.05.2001 - 10.03.2003).
Minister of Forests, Sports and Cinema (18.05.2011 - 02.04.2013).
Presently Chairman of Kerala Congress (B), President of Atma Sangathan, Chairman of Malayalam Television Fraternity, State President of Kerala Elephant Owners Federation, President of Co-operative Society headed by Malayalam Television Artistes, Chairman of Petitions Committee of Kerala Legislative Assembly (from 2021)