U. Prathibha

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]

Adv Prathibha
Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 June 2016 (2016-06-02)
Preceded by	C. K. Sadasivan
Constituency	Kayamkulam
Alappuzha District Panchayat President
In office 2010 (2010) – 2015 (2015)
Thakazhy Grama Panchayat President
In office 2005 (2005) – 2010 (2010)
Personal details
Born	(1977-05-10) 10 May 1977 (age 48) Thakazhy, Alappuzha, India
Political party	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Spouse	K. R. Hari ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2018)​
Children	1 son (Kanivu)
Occupation	politician

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]