Shri. Sankaran became elected to 11th KLA from Quilandy constituency as INC candidate. From 26.5.2001 to 29.8.2004 he handled the portfolio of Health (till 10.2.2004) and Tourism (from 11.2.2004) in the Ministry headed by Shri. A.K. Antony. Previously in 1998, Shri. Sankaran had also got elected to Lok Sabha. Shri. Sankaran has served at different times, likewise, as the President of various Trade Unions besides being President, Kozhikode District Youth Congress Committee (1978), General Secretary, (1980–91) DCC, Kozhikode and President DCC(I), Kozhikode.