Kerala

M. Liju

Minister for Excise and Cooperation (or Member of Legislative Assembly / MLA) · Government of Kerala (or Kerala Legislative Assembly)

Last updated: 14/9/2026Kerala

M. Liju is a prominent Indian politician, seasoned administrator, and advocate who serves as the Minister for Excise and Cooperation for the Government of Kerala. Born in Haripad, Alappuzha district, to Mohanlal M., he completed his B.Sc., LL.B. at Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram (2002), and LL.M. at Kuvempu University (2020). Representing the Kayamkulam constituency in the Alappuzha district, he is widely recognized for his grassroots activism and focus on socio-economic development within the Indian National Congress. His ministerial tenure centers on upgrading the cooperative sector's infrastructure, boosting institutional transparency, and managing state excise frameworks to foster economic and social well-being across the state.

Cooperative sector involvement

As the Minister for Excise and Cooperation (Government of Kerala), M. Liju directs state executive policies governing agricultural credit societies, consumer cooperatives, and district banking infrastructure. His initiatives focus on upgrading cooperative infrastructure, boosting institutional transparency, driving large-scale digitization to protect ordinary depositors, and utilizing legal frameworks to resolve disputes in small-scale labor, construction, and agricultural cooperative societies.

May 18, 2026 – Present · Kerala · Government / Public Administration / Cooperative Sector

Cabinet Minister

Department of Cooperation, Government of Kerala

Directs state executive policies governing agricultural credit societies, consumer cooperatives, and district banking infrastructure. Works with institutional apex bodies like Kerala Bank to strengthen financial inclusion, credit safety nets, and local worker communities while leading digitization and accountability reforms.

May 18, 2026 – Present · Kerala · Cooperative Banking & Financial Inclusion

Ministerial Administrative Oversight & Apex Partner

Kerala State Co-operative Bank (Kerala Bank)

Collaborates with apex banking bodies like Kerala Bank to implement credit safety nets, improve liquidity protection for rural savers, and drive financial inclusion across farming and primary worker communities.

Career & education

Minister for Excise and Cooperation (or Member of Legislative Assembly / MLA) · Government of Kerala (or Kerala Legislative Assembly) · Government / Public Administration / Politics

M. Liju is an Indian politician, advocate, and social worker serving as the Minister for Excise and Cooperation in the Government of Kerala. Representing the Kayamkulam constituency in the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly, he leads key initiatives to upgrade cooperative infrastructure, enhance institutional transparency, drive digital banking safety, and reform state excise administration.

Kuvempu University — Master of Laws (LL.M.)
2020
Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala University) — Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
2002
Kerala University — Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
Completed prior to L

Indian National Congress (INC) / Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) — Member, Political Affairs Committee & General Secretary (Active Member (Current))
Kerala Pradesh Youth Congress — State President / State Executive Member (Prior Leadership Terms)

Notable roles & positions

M. Liju has held major executive and political positions within the Government of Kerala and the Indian National Congress. Serving as a key legislative leader from Alappuzha district, his portfolio spans cabinet ministerial administration over state excise enforcement, cooperative banking networks, and organizational leadership within state congress committees.

May 18, 2026 – Present · Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Minister for Excise and Cooperation

Government of Kerala

Serves as Cabinet Minister directing state executive policies for the Department of Cooperation and Department of Excise. Focuses on modernizing cooperative infrastructure, boosting transparency, digitizing primary cooperative banks, and implementing anti-drug/excise enforcement frameworks across the state.

May 2026 – Present · Kayamkulam Constituency, Alappuzha, Kerala

Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)

Kerala Legislative Assembly (16th Assembly)

Represents the Kayamkulam constituency in the Alappuzha district following the May 2026 state assembly elections, focusing on regional infrastructure, public welfare, and constituent services.

Contributions & impact

M. Liju's key contributions focus on institutional cooperative banking reforms, digitizing primary credit societies, strengthening legal frameworks to resolve labor disputes, and enhancing excise regulatory enforcement. As Minister for Excise and Cooperation, he works to ensure financial inclusion for agricultural communities while promoting public welfare and anti-drug initiatives.

Primary Cooperative Bank Digitization & Saver Protection

2026

Led large-scale digitization and accountability reforms within primary cooperative banks across Kerala to protect ordinary depositors, increase operational transparency, and safeguard rural savings.

Cooperative Dispute Resolution & Legal Modernization Framework

2026

Utilized his legal background as an advocate (LL.M.) to draft structural updates and policy papers aimed at resolving disputes within small-scale labor, construction, and agricultural cooperative societies.

Excise Department Revamp & Anti-Drug Enforcement Initiative

2026

Initiated state-level administrative and regulatory updates in the Kerala Department of Excise to strengthen compliance, modernize enforcement mechanisms, and intensify anti-drug public safety drives.

Notable works

Contributed to various legal reviews, state-level policy papers, institutional legislative drafts, and administrative reports focusing on cooperative legal reforms, primary credit institution governance, and state excise law enforcement framework.

Policy Paper on Cooperative Sector Legal Reforms & Depositor Protection2026
Department of Cooperation, Government of Kerala
A comprehensive policy draft focusing on structural updates for primary agricultural cooperative societies, digital accountability frameworks, and dispute resolution mechanisms for rural savers and labor cooperatives.
Institutional Review on State Excise Law Enforcement & Regulatory Frameworks2026
Department of Excise, Government of Kerala
Legislative and administrative policy review examining state excise compliance, revenue management, enforcement strategies, and anti-drug administrative updates.

Achievements

Elected to the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly & Cabinet Induction

2026

Reclaimed the historic Kayamkulam constituency in the Alappuzha district during the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections, subsequently taking oath as Cabinet Minister for Excise and Cooperation.

Awards & honors

Distinguished Legal & Academic Professional Citation

2020

Kuvempu University & Law Alumni Associations

Honored for academic excellence upon completing post-graduate legal studies (LL.M.) and applying legal expertise to public policy, cooperative reforms, and dispute resolution.

Public Welfare, Anti-Drug Enforcement & Legislative Priorities

Beyond administrative portfolios in Excise and Cooperation, M. Liju prioritizes constituency-level infrastructure development in Kayamkulam, including upgrading primary healthcare facilities, improving local roads, and ensuring clean drinking water access. His legislative agenda places strong emphasis on anti-drug public awareness campaigns, protecting rural depositors through cooperative banking safety nets, and advocating for the economic welfare of local farming and fishing communities.

Organizational Leadership & Community Engagement

A long-standing organizational leader within the Indian National Congress, M. Liju has previously served as General Secretary of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and President of the Alappuzha District Congress Committee (DCC). He active engages in cultural and literary forums across Kerala, speaking on policy governance, federalism, and public administration.