Pon Radhakrishnan, who is locally famous as "Ponnar" in Kanyakumari constituency, is an Indian politician. He is hailing from Bharatiya Janata Party. After enormous victory in Indian General Elections 2014, conducted by Election Commission of India, he is appointed as the Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in cabinet of Narendra Modi in 16th Lok Sabha. He becomes the heavy portfolio in Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters due to his proximity to Narendra Modi.
Early Life of Pon Radhakrishnan
Pon Radhkrishnan was born on March 1, 1952 in Alathankarai, Nagercoil. This 62 years old veteran politician has served as the Minister of State for Youth affairs and Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in the Ministry of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Former Prime Minister of India. Hailing from a wealthy and eminent Nadar family from Alathankarai, Pon Radhakrishnan is a well kown face in Delhi headquarters of Bharatiya Janata Party. He was also elected to Lok Sabha from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
Political Career of Pon Radhakrishnan
Pon Radhakrishnan came into Indian political limelight when he joined with Bharatiya Janat Party. He served for Bharatiya Janata Party with diligence and hard work. He was the active participant in every social and political works. Radhakrishnan is the president of Tamil Nadu of the Bharathya Janata Party. Pon Radhakrishnan became the prominent face among the people when the initiative was taken by him to establish a "Youth Village" in Kanyakumari district. This Village was governed by the Sports Authority of India.
Pon Radhakrishnan is a lawyer by profession, joined the Hindu Munnani, a South Indian right-wing regional organisation in the 1990s. In the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, he first won from Nagercoil under the umbrella of Bharatiya Janata Party. The party had won three other seats in the same elections. Pon Radhakrishnan lost the 2009 Lok Sabha election from Kanyakumari and 2011 Tamil Nadu assembly election from Nagercoil.
In 2014 general election, Pon Radhakrishnan won the Lok Sabha election from Kanyakumari constituency by defeating Indian National Congress candidate H Vasanthakumar, with a margin of 128662 votes. He also got double votes against All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate John Thankam.
