Thrissur: Congress MLA OJ Janeesh has weathered many hardships and emotional struggles in life before rising to become a cabinet minister today. The journey of the young Youth Congress leader from poverty and daily wage struggles to public office has been marked by sacrifice, perseverance and determination.

Janeesh was studying in the second year of his Electronics and Communication diploma course at Polytechnic College in Perumbavoor when tragedy struck his family. His father, Janaranjan, who worked at a bar in Chalakudy, collapsed and died at his workplace. The sudden death left the family devastated and pushed their household into financial uncertainty.

Faced with mounting responsibilities, Janeesh decided to discontinue his studies and take up labour work to support his mother, Pushpalatha and younger brother. But his mother insisted he continue his education.

“You must continue your studies. You should succeed in life. I don’t know whether I will be there then, but you must take good care of your younger brother,” she told him.

The very next day, his mother went out for daily wage work. Realising that her earnings alone would not be enough to run the household, repay debts and fund his education, Janeesh started working nights as a security guard at locations assigned by a security agency in Perumbavoor. He also worked night shifts at a steel furniture factory and spent holidays working at an internet cafe to make ends meet.

Despite the hardships, Janeesh never distanced himself from politics, which had already become part of his life. He served as the KSU unit president at the polytechnic college and actively participated in protests, often returning home injured after clashes during agitations.

The sight of his mother waiting in tears late at night for her son to return home after the protests deeply affected him. During those difficult years, it was his younger brother Dhanesh who remained by their mother’s side whenever Janeesh returned home late.

When Janeesh pursued higher studies, his mother joined the MGNREGA scheme and took full responsibility for supporting both sons. Understanding the family’s struggles and his brother’s determination to study further, Dhanesh eventually moved abroad in search of better earnings.

While studying at Government Law College Thrissur, Janeesh became the KSU district vice-president. Later, he unexpectedly received the responsibility of KSU district president for just one day, a position that later became permanent in 2017.

He went on to serve as Youth Congress vice-president of the Kodungallur assembly constituency and later emerged as a prominent leader during his tenure as Thrissur district president from 2020 to 2023.

In October 2025, Janeesh took charge as the state president of the Youth Congress. Janeesh, 37, is the youngest minister in the VD Satheesan-led UDF cabinet. His inclusion came as a surprise, as he became the Youth Congress state president only last year. He won from the Kodungallur constituency in Thrissur district.