A. M. Ariff

A. M. Ariff Biography

A. M. Ariff is an Indian politician from Alappuzha, Kerala, affiliated to Communist Party of India (Marxist). He currently serves as a parliamentarian in the 17th Lok Sabha headed by Narendra Modi and represents constituency. He is the only LDF candidate from Kerala who won 2019 general elections, while UDF swept the remaining 13 seats. He defeated UDF’s Shanimol Usman in the general elections, who later joined state legislative assembly in by-polls. One of the prominent figures of state politics, he served as the Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly during 2006–2019, and resigned his MLA seat to contest in 2019 general elections.

A. M. Ariff was born on 24 May 1964 in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. His father is a retired police officer. He completed his schooling from three different schools of Alappuzha. He graduated from S. N. College, Cherthala and LLB from Law Academy Law College, Thiruvananthapuram. After completing his laws studies, he started his career as a lawyer before he joined active politics. He is married to Dr. Shahnaz Begum who runs obesity and weight management clinics at Alappuzha and Ernakulam. The couple has two children.

He started his political career through Students’ politics while doing graduation at S. N. College. He was elected as College Union magazine editor and later, as chairman of the union. Over the years he rose to fame as a youth leader, associated with SFI, DYFI and finally CPI(M). His family was evicted from the police quarters following a direct order from the Superintendent of Police, while Ariff was a student leader at S. N. College. He became a party member in 1986, and legislator in year 2006. He held the seat of Aroor for nearly 14 years.

Published: January 12, 2020

Updated: January 12, 2020