A. K. Antony or Arackaparambil Kurien Antony is an Indian politician who belongs to the political party Indian National Congress. Previously he served as the Defence Minister of India. Earlier he had also been the Chief Minister of Kerala. He was also appointed as the chairman of the Disciplinary Action Committee of the All India Congress Committee and member of the Central Election Committee and the Congress Working Committee (CWC). He is a senior member of the Cabinet Committees on Accommodation, Economic Affairs, Political Affairs and Security.
Early Life of A. K. Antony
A. K. Antony was born on 28th December 1940 to Shri Arakkaparambil Kurian Pillai and Shrimati Aley Kutty in a devout Syro Malabar Catholic family in Cherthala in the district of Alappuzha in Kerala. He completed his primary education and afterwards moved to Ernakulam for his higher studies. He did his schooling from Holy Family Boys High School (lower primary) and Government Boys High School (Upper primary), Cherthala. He next did his B.A. from Maharajas College and BL from Government Law College. A. K. Antony started his career as an LIC agent.
Political Career of A. K. Antony
A. K. Antony`s first tryst with Indian Politics took place while coordinating students of Cherthala Taluk, Alleppy district. As an activist of Kerala Student`s Union (KSU), he came to the public engrossment while heading the student`s movements. A. K. Antony has headed many strikes like `Oru Ana Samaram` (Single Penny Strike). Before becoming the AICC General Secretary in 1984, he worked as the President of KSU, Youth Congress and KPCC. He was the youngest person ever to be brought up to that post of KPCC president. He was selected a number of times at the Congress Working Committee. He still serves the position as a CWC member. He is in charge of Karnataka state affairs of the Congress Party.
A. K. Antony later split from the Indian National Congress and formed another party by the name Congress (A). The party was led by E. K. Nayanar during 1980-1982. It mainly functioned in Kerala. However, later in 1982 it merged with the Congress. He is a shinning figure among the former Chief Ministers of Kerala. He served in that post three times. The first term was from April 27th, 1977 to October 27th, 1978, the second term was from March 22nd, 1995 to May 9th, 1996 and the third term from May 17th, 2001 to August 29th, 2004. He also holds the credit of being the youngest Chief Minister in 1977. During 1996 to 2001, he was the Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly. He is also a member of the Rajya Sabha. In the beginning he was the member of the House from 1985 to 1991 and then 1991 to 1995 and was the Minister for Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and in the latter period Public Distribution in the Narasimha Rao`s ministry.
In 1996, as a Chief Minister, he won popular support for his decision to inflict a ban on arrack or country liquor. He was appointed as the Chairman of the Disciplinary committee of the All India Congress committee. A. K. Antony became the Union Cabinet Minister for Defence in 2005. He became one of the most well-thought-of politicians in India for his honesty and high values in life. In 2009, following the Congress`s return to power for the second time he retained his portfolio of the defence minister.
Personal Life of A. K. Antony
Antony is an atheist and honours all religions evenly. Infant Tresa, his eldest sister is a nun and has been the Provincial of Franciscan Clarist Order three times. He is married to Elizabeth and the couple has 2 sons, Anil Kurien Antony and Ajith Paul Antony.
