A. K. Antony

Infobox_Indian_politician
name = A.K. Antony


imagesize = 177px
birth_date = birth date and age|1940|12|28|mf=y
birth_place =Cherthala, Kerala
residence =
death_date =
death_place =
constituency =
office = Defence Minister of India
term_end = present
predecessor = Pranab Mukherjee
successor = Incumbent
religion = Syrian Catholic
party =Indian National Congress
spouse = Elizabeth Antony

Arackaparambil Kurian Antony (Malayalam: അറക്കപ്പറമ്പില്‍ കുര്യന്‍ ആന്‍‌റ്റണി) (28 December, 1940 – ) is the current Defence Minister of India in the Manmohan Singh government. He is a former Chief Minister of Kerala, having served in that post three times. The first term from April 27, 1977 to October 27, 1978, the second one from March 22, 1995 to May 9, 1996 and the third term from May 17, 2001 to August 29, 2004. When he became Chief Minister in 1977, he was the youngest Chief Minister of the State. He was the Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly during 1996 to 2001.

Early life

A.K. Antony was born on 28 December 1940 in the Cherthala Taluk,Alappuzha district of the southern Indian state of Kerala. His parents, Kurian Pillai and Elikutty, belong to the Arackaparambil family. He was raised in a Syrian Catholic family.Antony completed his primary education in Government High school, Cherthala and completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from Maharajas College, Ernakulam and Bachelor of Law from Government Law College, Ernakulam.His eldest sister Infant Tresa, is a nun in the Clarist Order. She was appointed the Provincial for the Order three times.

Political Life

A.K. Antony entered into politics by organising students of Cherthala Taluk (Alleppy District). He came to the public's attention leading the student movements as an activist of Kerala Students Union (KSU). He has been an active leader of many strikes like "Oru Ana Samaram" (Single Penny Strike). He served as the president of KSU, Youth Congress and KPCC before becoming the AICC General Secretary in 1984. When he became KPCC president he was the youngest person ever to be elevated to that post. He was elected several times to the Congress Working Committee. He still serves as a CWC [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_Working_Committee] member. He is in charge of Karnataka state affairs of the Congress Party.

In 2004, He was succeeded by Oommen Chandy as the Chief Minister of Kerala because of factional politics and in-fighting within the Congress Party which led Antony to resign his Chief Ministerial post.

In 2005, A.K. Antony was appointed the Union Cabinet Minister for Defence. He is a member of the Rajya Sabha. Earlier he was the member of the House from 1985 to 91 and 1991 to 1995 and was the Minister for Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution in the Narasimha Rao ministry in the latter period.

Controversy

There have been tussles in the Congress party regarding who should be the Chief Minister - Antony or K. Karunakaran

The Antony and Karunakaran factions are fierce rivals fighting for the main ministerial berths when they are in power.

As Defense Minister, A. K. Antony announced that middlemen will not be involved in the dealing of arms. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/No_middlemen_in_defence_deals_A_K_Antony/articleshow/2788559.cms No middlemen in defence deals: A K Antony-India-The Times of India ] ] This was a decision hailed as a good decision by many as a way to reduce the unnecessary spending incurred in dealing with middle men.

Facts

*He and his wife, Elizabeth, have two sons named Anil Kurien Antony and Ajith Paul Antony.
*He has been appointed as the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the All India Congress Committee.

;Positions Held

1970 - 1977, 1977 - 1979, 1995 - 1996,1996 - 2001, 2001 - 2005, Member, Kerala Legislative Assembly
2001 - 2005, 1977 - 1978, 1995 - 1996, Chief Minister, Kerala
April 1985 Elected to Rajya Sabha
April 1991 Re - elected to Rajya Sabha
1993 - 1995 Union Cabinet Minister of Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution
1996 - 2001 Leader of Opposition, Kerala Legislative Assembly
May 2005 Elected to Rajya Sabha

References

;Notes1. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/No_middlemen_in_defence_deals_A_K_Antony/articleshow/2788559.cms

External links