Antony plays it safe, not to give up his seat this week

By Ashraf Padanna

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader ster A K Antony yesterday rejected opposition demands to resign from state assembly immediately to pave way for by-election in his Cherthala constituency.

“It’s my discretion. I’ll take a decision at my own will,” Antony told reporters after visiting his voters in Cherthala. 

Antony who resigned as chief minister after the worst drubbing in the parliamentary elections last year was elected unopposed on May 27 to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament. He is likely to be sworn in as a cabinet minister under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next week.

Antony represents the parliament seat vacated by K Karunakaran, now the National Congress (Indira) leader, who said he was ready to contest from Cherthala if Antony had the ‘guts to resign now’.

The rulebook says he has to choose between New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram within 15 days of his election.

“I have one more week to take a decision and be with my voters,” Antony said.

The Congress Party is in no mood to face a by-election in the prestigious constituency represented by Antony as an unfavourable outcome would make the going tough for Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. 

Chandy, who emerged from Antony’s shadows to replace him eight months ago, had promised to regain lost grounds for the party and the government while assuming power. He also took the risk of forcing Karunakaran out, despite Antony’s opposition.

The Congress Party’s ‘Mr Clean’ who enjoys wide respect across the political spectrum is tipped to be the next defense minister amid speculation that Pranab Mukherjee would be paying the price for giving a clean chit to his predecessor George Fernandes in a controversial defence deal. 

The prime minister is expected to reshuffle his cabinet next week to fill the vacancy created by the death of Sunil Dutt and redistributing some other portfolios. 

Party bosses hope to use Antony as a star campaigner in the next elections in Kerala. Presently, a lone junior minister represents Kerala in the cabinet. With the state going to the local elections in September, chances are reportedly bright for one more junior minister to be inducted.

Antony had won 100 of the 140 seats for the party-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the 2001 elections to return as chief minister. But his efforts to buy peace before the parliamentary elections with Karunakaran at the risk of losing his own friends bombed when the Congress drew a blank and the UDF had to content with the lone seat of junior foreign minister E Ahmed.

NRKs to get smart cards

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Over 3mn non-resident Indians from Kerala state will soon get smart identity cards with all personal data recorded on a computer chip.

“You don’t have to carry all the documents with you every time. Just swipe the card, you can withdraw cash at ATMs, go through airport checkpoints without hassles or get government services without going through routine checks and verifications,” M M Hassan, chairman, Roots-NRK Development Initiative, the government’s expatriate welfare body, said here on Thursday.

The cards will be launched and distributed at the two-day Samavayam, a mega meeting of Kerala NRIs, beginning here on August 5. 

“These identity cards have been a long-standing demand of expatriates,” he said.

The Roots-NRK has tied up with the State Bank of Travancore for banking services.

“A one-time fee will be levied when the cards are issued,” he said.