Kummanam Rajasekharan Explained

Nationality:Indian
Birth Date:1952 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Kummanam, Kottayam, Kerala
Occupation:Politician
Party:Bharatiya Janata Party
Office1:14th Governor of Mizoram
Predecessor1:Nirbhay Sharma
Successor1:Jagdish Mukhi
Office2:State President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Kerala
1Blankname1:Chief Minister
Predecessor2:V. Muraleedharan
Successor2:P. S. Sreedharan Pillai

Kummanam Rajasekharan (born 23 December 1952) is an Indian politician and former governor of Mizoram (2018–2019). He began his political career as an activist of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Sangh Parivar in Kerala in 1970. From 2015 to 2018, he was the state president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala. He is the first BJP leader from Kerala to become governor. He currently serves as the administrative committee member of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He actively contested for BJP in various Loksabha and assembly elections in Kerala.[1]

Rajasekharan worked as a journalist between 1974 and 1976, before joining the Food Corporation of India. He became a high-ranking official of the Kerala Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) during that time. In 1987, he resigned to become a full-time Sangh Parivar worker, while being instrumental in spearheading Kerala's VHP, Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti, Balasadanams, and Ekal Vidyalayas. Rajasekharan has been the secretary of Hindu Aikya Vedi,[2] Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam, general-secretary and chairman of Janmabhumi.

In 2019, he was conferred with a Doctor of Letters degree by the Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabrmal Tibrewala University for honouring his contributions to the field of social work.[3] [4]

Early life

Rajasekharan was born on 23 December 1952 to Adv V. K. Ramakrishnan and P. Parukkutty Amma in Kummanam village of Kottayam district in Travancore-Cochin (present-day Kerala), India.[5] He completed his school education from Government Upper Primary School in Kummanam and N.S.S. High School in Kottayam. He completed pre-degree education from Baselius College, Kottayam and later joined CMS College Kottayam and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Botany. He then took a postgraduate diploma in journalism and began a career in journalism as sub-editor in various newspapers.[6] [7] [8] [9]

Professional career

In 1974, Rajasekharan joined Deepika news-daily as sub-editor, embarking on a career in journalism. He later worked in different news-dailies such as Rastravaartha, Keraladesam, Kerala Bhooshanam and Kerala Dwani. In 1976, he took a break from journalism and joined Food Corporation of India (FCI) as a government servant. In 1979, he became Kottayam district Secretary of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and later became its state Joint Secretary in 1981. He resigned the job from FCI in 1987 and became a pracharak (full-time worker) in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).[8] [10] [11]

Political career

He came into contact with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh during his student days. In 1979, he became the district-secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and later was associated with many Hindu organisations in Kerala in various capacities.[12] [13]

In 1983, he participated in the movement against 'Nilakkal land encroachment' and worked for 'Paliyam declaration' pronounced by prominent Hindu religious scholars.[14] In 2012, he participated in the agitation against KGS Aranmula International Airport. He was the Chief Patron of Aranmula Heritage Village Action Council which protested against this airport.[15]

Marad massacre

On the evening of 2 May 2003, a group of fishermen were attacked by a Muslim mob armed with swords and deadly weapons with the help of local political support. Nine Hindus were killed in that attack. Many were seriously wounded.[23] Mass protests were carried out by various Hindu organisations under the banner of the Hindu Aikya Vedi, against the violence. Kerala government decided to announce compensation for victims' families and ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. As the General-Secretary of Hindu Aikya Vedi, RSS, Kummanam Rajasekharan helped the victims of the massacre.[24]

Controversies

In December 2015, Kummanam Rajasekharan made a communal statement while attending a public function that, “Vendors from other religions shouldn’t be allowed in temple premises and temple committees could decide on letting vendors from other religions operate at temple premises”. This led to widespread protest in the state. The Government of Kerala as well as opposition parties opposed this statement and accused that Kummanam is trying to create communal division and transform the temples to RSS offices.[25]

In May 2017, Kummanam circulated a video in his social media account which claimed CPI(M) men celebrating the murder of an RSS worker. The video turned out to be a fake and a police case was registered against him.[26]

In June 2018, just days after Kummanam was sworn in as the Governor of Mizoram, a campaign to remove him from the post was reportedly started by the People’s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM), an anti-corruption organisation turned political party. PRISM appealed to churches and political parties to expel Rajasekharan from the state, the organisation called him an "anti-secular" and a "radical Hindu leader" in the appeal letter.[27]

In October 2020, the Aranmula police filed a lawsuit against Kummanam, among several others, for allegedly defrauding an individual of several lakh rupees. According to the prosecution, on the premise of making him a collaborator in a factory-unit to be established in Palakkad, the accused allegedly took from the victim.[28]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kummanam Rajasekharan to represent centre in administrative committee of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple. 22 November 2020. 26 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201126104136/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kummanam-rajasekharan-to-represent-centre-in-administrative-committee-of-sree-padmanabha-swamy-temple--1.5149901. dead.
  2. News: Sabarimala a cash cow, but Kerala won't allow its symbols . Ananthakrishnan . G. . 26 October 2010 . https://archive.today/20130103125737/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-26/india/28265039_1_sabarimala-haj-pilgrims . dead . 3 January 2013 . . 10 May 2018.
  3. Web site: Rajasekharan. Kummanam. The degree of D. Litt in the field of social work. Twitter. 8 March 2019. 26 February 2019.
  4. News: Doctorate for Kummanam Rajasekharan. 8 March 2019. Kerala Kaumudi. 21 November 2018.
  5. Web site: Kummanam Rajasekharan(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- THIRUVANANTHAPURAM(KERALA) - Affidavit Information of Candidate: . 2024-07-26 . www.myneta.info.
  6. Web site: Kummanam Rajasekharan's mother passed away. Haindava Keralam. 2 August 2018. 3 January 2011.
  7. News: ഡി.. ബിനു. ബി.ജെ.പിയുടെ കടിഞ്ഞാൺ കുമ്മനത്തിന്‍റെ കൈകളിൽ. 2 August 2018. Madhyamam Daily. 19 December 2015.
  8. News: Kummanam Rajasekharan is BJP Kerala state president. https://web.archive.org/web/20151219134600/http://deccanchronicle.com/151219/nation-current-affairs/article/kummanam-rajasekharan-bjp-state-president. dead. 19 December 2015. 25 May 2018. Deccan Chronicle. 19 December 2015.
  9. Web site: Kummanam Rajasekharan. https://web.archive.org/web/20190308110901/http://mizoram.nic.in/gov/governor.htm. dead. 8 March 2019. Governor of Mizoram. 8 March 2019. 25 May 2018.
  10. Web site: About Kummanam Rajasekharan. www.kummanamrajasekharan.in. 25 May 2018.
  11. News: Philip. Shaju. Stirs to protect temples powered Rajasekharan's rise. 25 May 2018. The Indian Express. 19 December 2015.
  12. Web site: Kummanam Rajasekharan. 21 December 2015.
  13. Web site: India News, Latest Sports, Bollywood, World, Business & Politics News. https://archive.today/20120709094906/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/keyword/hindu-aikya-vedi. dead. 9 July 2012. The Times of India. 21 December 2015.
  14. Web site: Latest News, India News, Breaking News, Live News Online, Today Headlines.
  15. Web site: HaindavaKeralam.com - Village Action Council will disrupt the Aranmula airport construction work says Kummanam. 2013-01-18. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150610213801/http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HKPage.aspx?PageID=16827. 10 June 2015.
  16. Web site: Sabarimala – Saranashramam. Sabarimala. 21 December 2015.
  17. Web site: About Janmabhumi Daily. ജന്മഭൂമി. ജന്മഭൂമി. 21 December 2015. 1 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120801143008/http://www.janmabhumidaily.com/jnb/?page_id=14. dead.
  18. Web site: President Kovind appoints Odisha, Mizoram Governors. ANI News. 25 May 2018.
  19. Web site: Ex-Kerala BJP Chief Rajasekharan Resigns as Mizoram Governor, Fuels Buzz of Poll Fight vs Shashi Tharoo . news18 . 8 March 2019 . 8 March 2019.
  20. Web site: Kummanam Rajasekharan resigns as Mizoram Governor, to contest for BJP from T'puram?. www.thenewsminute.com. 2019-05-26. 8 March 2019.
  21. Web site: Web Desk . Election Results 2019: Shashi Tharoor wins from Thiruvananthapuram for third consecutive time . . 17 December 2019 . en . 24 May 2019.
  22. Web site: Kummanam Rajasekharan to represent centre in administrative committee of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Mathrubhumi. 22 November 2020. 26 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201126104136/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kummanam-rajasekharan-to-represent-centre-in-administrative-committee-of-sree-padmanabha-swamy-temple--1.5149901. dead.
  23. News: Marad Massacre Investigation Report. The New Indian Express. Express Publications (Madurai).
  24. News: Kerala News : Marad case: Kummanam refutes Antony's statement. https://web.archive.org/web/20040622034248/http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/25/stories/2004042507860400.htm. dead. 22 June 2004. 21 December 2015. The Hindu. 25 April 2004.
  25. Web site: Kerala BJP prez in row over 'communal' statement. 22 December 2015. Deccan Herald.
  26. Web site: Case Against Kerala BJP Chief For Circulating 'Fake' Video Showing CPI(M) Men Celebrating RSS Worker's Murder. outlookindia.com/. 2 February 2022 .
  27. Web site: 'Drive out radical Hindu Governor': Campaign in Mizoram against Kummanam Rajasekharan. 1 June 2018. The News Minute.
  28. News: Staff Reporter. 2020-10-22. Case against Kummanam, 8 others for fraud. en-IN. The Hindu. 2020-11-22. 0971-751X.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kummanam Rajasekharan".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.