PM Modi, Amit Shah keep their promise to Alphons Kannanthanam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The inclusion of Alphons Kannanthanam in the Union cabinet will bring an end to the long-term speculations on the states representation at Centre.

K J Alphons, better known as Alphons Kannanthanam, hogged headlines for his 'activism' during his stint at the Indian Administrative Service.

Controversies always surrounded him as there had been repeated conflict with him and ruling politicians. On March 21, 2006, he quit the civil service to join politics.

Alphons's tryst with politics began with the left movement. In Kerala, where he had worked during most of his career, Alphons's public image was rightly in sync with the politics propagated by veteran Communist leader V S Achuthanandan.

He contested election from Kanjirappally constituency in Kottayam district as a CPM-backed independent candidate in 2006 assembly election. His candidature was widely welcomed by the people who elected him with a majority of 12,803 votes.

He was popular as an MLA and was gearing up to contest from the same constituency again.

But, a few weeks ahead of 2011 election notification, Alphons informed the then CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan about his desire to shift base to New Delhi for a 'broader and more serious mission'.

He soon joined the saffron camp.

The BJP state leadership, however, hasn't been happy with Alphons. He was active during the Lok Sabha and assembly campaigns in Kerala, but rejected invites to contest from one of the seats in central Kerala,where Christian population is the majority.

Last year, he was picked up by Narendra Modi as the administrator of Chandigarh but the decision had to be revoked owing to opposition from the local BJP leadership. Modi and Amit Shah had promised him a suitable compensation , which will be realized on Sunday.

Alphonse was born on August 8, 1953 at Manimala in Kottayam. His experience in administrative service and his stubborn stances against corruption and anti-development forces are expected to value-add his tenure in Team Modi.

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