Beginning public life through student politics and carrying four decades of a tradition of service, the journey of P. K. Basheer, Minister for Public Works of Kerala.
P. K. Basheer was born on 25 September 1959 at Edavanna, in Malappuram district, into the distinguished Pathayakkodan family, long prominent in Kerala politics. His father, P. Seethi Haji, was a former Member of the Legislative Assembly and Chief Whip. Elected to the Assembly four times from Kondotty and once from Tanur, Seethi Haji also served as a director of the Chandrika daily.
A childhood spent beside a father in constant contact with the public shaped Basheer into a public worker in his own right. Holding fast to that legacy, he went on to leave his own distinct mark on Kerala politics. He completed his high-school education at Madras Christian College School.
He entered public life in 1977 through the Muslim Students Federation (MSF). He served as President of the Muslim Youth League's Wandoor constituency committee (1985-1990), as District Vice President in Malappuram (1991-1995), and as a member of the Youth League State Working Committee (1996-2001).
After the formation of the Ernad constituency, he became the Muslim League's first constituency president there (2008-2011). Having joined the Muslim League State Working Committee in 2004, he was later elected to the State Secretariat as well.
In 1982, at the age of 22, he became President of the Edavanna Service Co-operative Bank, then the youngest person ever to hold such a post. He went on to serve thirteen years as its President, as a Director of the Malappuram District Co-operative Bank, and as a member of the Malappuram District Panchayat. In 1988, at 28, he was elected President of the Edavanna Grama Panchayat. This depth of experience in co-operative and local politics became the decisive force of his political life.
He also holds positions as General Secretary of the Edavanna Yatheemkhana, President of the Manjeri PCC Marketing Society, member of the Jamia Trust managing committee, and General Secretary of the Ernad Muslim Education Association.
In the first Assembly election held after the formation of the Ernad constituency (2011), P. K. Basheer was elected MLA. His majority has risen at every election: 11,246 in 2011, 12,893 in 2016, 22,546 in 2021, and 41,296 in 2026. In 2026 he took charge as Minister for Public Works in the V. D. Satheesan government.
His wife, Rasiya Basheer, served as President of the Edavanna Grama Panchayat. She was Panchayat President during 2001-2003 and 2006-2007, Vice President from 2010 to 2012, and President again from 2015 to 2017.
Children:
Jihan Harid (Electronics Engineer; Regional Product Manager, Dubai)
Nahan (Computer Engineer; Entrepreneur)
Sajin Seethi (IT Engineer; Digital Advertising, Dubai)
Children-in-law:
Harid Rahiman (IT Engineer, Abu Dhabi)
Azher Ibrahim (IT Consultant, Kochi)
Hanna Zehara (Logistics Engineer, Dubai)
P. K. Basheer carries forward the legacy of charity and public service left by his father, P. Seethi Haji. His innate manner, vision, and dreams of development set him apart.