P. Kakkan (18 June 1908 – 23 December 1981), known as Kakkan, was an Indian politician and freedom fighter who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, Member of Parliament, President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and in various ministerial posts in Congress governments in the erstwhile Madras state between 1957 and 1967.

Kakkan was born into a Tamil Paraiyar family on 18 June 1908 in a village called Thumbaipatti in Melur Taluk, Madurai district of Madras Presidency.

[4] On 24 April 1962, he was appointed as a member of the Business Advisory Committee[10] and as Home Minister on 3 October 1963[4] and served till 1967 when the Indian National Congress was defeated in the Assembly elections.

Some of Kakkan's achievements as Minister have been the construction of the Mettur and Vaigai reservoirs[3] and the formation of the Harijan Seva Sangh for the upliftment and welfare of Scheduled Castes.

He was married to Prof. V S Krishnakumari who is a paediatrician and worked as the Director of Institute of Child Health Egmore, Chennai (see Madras Medical College).

His fourth son, Dr. P K Sathyanathan served as Medical Officer in Tamil Nadu Municipal Service and retired.

Dr. Sathyanathan's son S Anand is involved in politics and is now serving as State Research Chairman in Tamil Nadu Youth Congress.