Shri. K N. Balagopal, Minister for Finance represents Kottarakkara constituency of Kollam district in the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly. He was the Political Secretary of the former Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri V.S. Achuthanandan during the period 2006-2010. Since 2010 he became Rajya Sabha member and had won Sansad Ratna Puraskar for his outstanding contributions to the Parliament in 2016. He is a post graduate in Commerce and Law.
As son of Pathanapuram Kalanjoor Sreenikethan P. K. Narayana Panikkar and O. V. Radhamani, he started his political career as Magazine Editor of Punalur SN College. He held various political positions like Union Chairman of Punalur SN college and Thiruvananthapuram MG College, Member of Kerala University Senate, SFI Kollam District President, SFI District Secretary, SFI State President, DYFI All India President, CPI (M) Kollam District president. He was CPI (M) State Committee member since 1998. Currently he is a member of CPI (M) State Secretariat and Secretary of Kerala Karshaka Sangham.