Shri. E. Chandrasekharan Nair, senior leader of CPI and co-operator, was born as the son of Shri. E. Easwara Pillai on 2nd December 1928.

Having entered active politics at a young age, he had joined Students Congress while at Annamalai University, then joined ISP and subsequently the Communist Party in 1952. A law graduate, he practised as a lawyer till 1970.

A strong advocate of co-operative movement, he had a long association with the co-operative sector, especially in Kollam district. He was the President of Kollam District Co-operative Bank for more than 29 years and had the rare opportunity of getting elected as the Chairman of All India State Co-operative Bank Federation and the Vice-President of National Co-operative Union and member of the Central Committee of the International Co-operative Alliance and member of Agriculture Credit Board of RBI.

Shri. Chandrasekharan Nair became elected to the 1st KLA from Kottarakara constituency, contesting as a Communist Party candidate. He was elected also to 3rd KLA from Kottarakkara , as Communist Party Member. However he resigned his membership on Feb 1, 1970 to make way for the election of Shri. C. Achutha Menon. He represented Chadayamangalam constituency in the 5th & 6th KLA.

In the Ministry headed by Shri. E.K. Nayanar, he was the Minister for Food, & Civil Supplies and Housing from 25.1.1980 to 20.10.1981 . In addition to the portfolio of Food and Civil Supplies, he handled the portfolio of Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development from 2..4..1987 to 17..6..1991 in the Ministry headed by Shri. E.K. Nayanar. In the 10th KLA he represented Karunagappally, and was the Minister for Food, Tourism & Law from 20..5..1996 to 13..5..2001.

In 1980, Shri. Chandrasekharan Nair was appointed Chairman of the Adhoc Committee for the formation of Subject Committees, which recommended the formation of ten Subject Committees for the detailed scrutiny of budget, an innovative concept in the Legislative history of India. The Committee formed under his Chairmanship in 1999 had also given recommendations to streamline the functioning of the Subject Committees, after an in-depth analysis of their working. He had also a remarkable stint as the Chairman of the Committee on Private Member’s Bills and Resolutions during 1977-1979.

The concept of “Maveli Stores” aiming at making available essential commodities at fair price to poorer sections of the society, also emerged at his initiative.

He is also the recepient of many honours such as ‘Sadanandan Award’ for best Co-operator and R. Sankara Narayanan Thampy award for best Parliamentarian.

His wife is Smt. Manorama Nair and they have one son and one daughter.