He is also the only Malayali to hold the position of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) President during the time of Rajiv Gandhi.

In 1985, he became the General Secretary of Indian Youth Congress and went on to become the youngest Minister (Rural Development) in the Ministry of K. Karunakaran in 1986 at the age of 28.

[9] In 1989 he was elected as Member of Parliament from Kottayam Parliamentary Constituency and became National President, Indian Youth Congress in 1990.

In 2005, he returned to state politics to become president of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee.

[12] His "Operation Kubera" project was intended to stop the reign of illegal money lenders in the state.

[13] He shared the dais with Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a joint anti-CAA protest organised by the ruling CPM-led LDF to express his views on the CAA.

Leader of the opposition Chennithala said he has moved a petition challenging the Act[14] which drew criticism from the then-KPCC President Mullappally Ramachandran.

However, KPCC vice-president V. D. Satheesan, stated that the protest against CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) was "a fight for a common cause".

[20] Under his leadership the UDF emerged victorious in 2019 Indian general election by winning 19 out of 20 seats in Kerala.