A. K. Antony

A. K. Antony is an Indian political figure. He was born on December 28, 1940 to Aleykutty Kurian and Arackaparambil Kurien Pillai at Cherthala, Travancore. His father passed away when A. K. Antony was just a child. This forced him to work to pay his education fees. His Alma maters are Holy Family Boys High school, Government Boys High school, Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, and Government Law College, Ernakulam. He has completed his graduation in arts and law fields. His wife, Elizabeth works in Kerala High Court as a lawyer. They have two sons from their marriage.

Antony maiden venture into politics was as a student leader, representing Kerala Students Union from the Alleppey District, which people also call Cherthala Taluk, under the supervision of M. A. John. He contested and won the presidency of Kerala Students Union and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee in the year 1966 and 1972 respectively. He also became the General Secretary of All India Congress Committee.

He was re-elected as a president of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee in the year 1987 but lost the election to Vayalar Ravi in 1991. After his split from the Indian National Congress, he founded his own the Congress (A). He firmly opposed Indira Gandhi. When people began to accuse K. Karunakaran as a treacherous involved in the Rajan scam, he resigned, and Antony succeeded him.

He was the youngest person to become the Chief Minister of India. Antony introduced various allowances like the Unemployment Allowance and Festival Allowance for the State Employees. He prohibited arrack and initiated steps that would benefit and revive the Indian economy. He is also responsible for the construction of several private medical and engineering colleges in Kerala.

He closed the Kerala Coca-Cola plant which was utilizing too much water. He was also a member of Rajya Sabha and held the post of Minister for Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs, and Public Distribution. However, as the department was involved in a sugar scam, he resigned on moralistic grounds in spite of not being aware of it.

He also served as the Defence Minister. He was also the chairman of Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, chancellor of Defence Institute of Advanced Technology and the president of Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. He was one of the senior members of the Manmohan Singh Cabinet. People respect him for his simplicity and leading a corrupt-free political career.