He was a leader during his college days, Abdullakutty became the General Secretary of Calicut University Student's Union in 1989. He served as Member of the Kannur District Panchayat from 1995 to 1999. He was elected to Parliament from Kannur Lok Sabha constituency twice (1999–2009).and was one of the youngest MP of the country during that time. In 2008, he praised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, and was expelled from CPI(M) in 2009. He subsequently joined Indian National Congress. He represented the Kannur Lok Sabha constituency of Kerala in the 13th and 14th Lok Sabha (two terms) and was a Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2009 to 2016.