Aatral Ashok Kumar’s net assets amount to Rs 583.48 crore, making him a prominent figure in the electoral race..reports Asian Lite News
Aatral Ashok Kumar, the AIADMK candidate for the Erode Lok Sabha constituency, emerges as the wealthiest contender in Tamil Nadu’s upcoming general elections slated for April 19, based on the affidavit he submitted to the Election Commission. Kumar’s net assets amount to Rs 583.48 crore, making him a prominent figure in the electoral race.
His wife, Karunambika, who is the daughter of BJP MLA Dr. C Saraswathi from Modakkurichi in Erode district, possesses assets valued at Rs 69.98 crore, as stated by Kumar in his affidavit. The couple collectively holds Rs 10 lakh in cash, along with 10.1 kg and 10.6 kg of gold respectively.
Kumar’s movable assets are valued at Rs 526.53 crore, while his immovable assets, acquired and inherited, amount to Rs 56.95 crore. Meanwhile, Karunambika’s movable assets are worth Rs 47.38 crore, accompanied by immovable property valued at Rs 22.60 crore. Notably, neither of them carries any liabilities.
A resident of Erode aged 53, Kumar is a founding member and director of The Indian Public School (TIPS) and Amex Alloys Private Limited. Additionally, he established educational institutions such as TIPS School of Architecture, TIPS School of Management, TIPS College of Arts and Science, and TIPS Global Institute.
Educationally, Kumar holds a degree in electrical engineering from Coimbatore and pursued further studies in the United States, obtaining a Master’s from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, and an MBA from the University of Indianapolis, Indiana. His professional journey includes stints at multinational corporations like Microsoft and Intel before returning to India to contribute to the education sector.
MDMK Erode MP on ventilator
Erode MP A. Ganeshamurthy, who attempted suicide after allegedly consuming insecticide, at his residence continued to be on ventilator support on Monday, said his relatives here.
The hospital has not released any medical update on him so far. The sitting Lok Sabha MP from the constituency was rushed to a hospital on Sunday.
The 76-year-old MDMK leader was, according to his close relatives, in acute mental stress after the DMK front denied him the seat.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections he won the seat with a margin of 2,10,618 votes by defeating his nearest AIADMK rival, G.Manimaran.
However, in the upcoming elections MDMK founder leader, Vaiko, pushed for the candidature of his son, Durai Vaiko, and ensured that MDMK got the Tiruchi seat instead of Erode.
The DMK front has fielded a youth leader, K.E. Prakash from Erode instead of Ganeshamurthy.
Prakash is considered to be close to Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs and son of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
MDMK leader and son of Vaiko, Durai Vaiko, who is the party candidate from Tiruchi Lok Sabha seat, paid a visit to the private hospital in Coimbatore and met Ganeshamoorthy. However Durai Vaiko did not speak to the media after the visit.
A close relative of Ganeshamurthy told IANS that Vaiko had not informed him about changes, including the denial of ticket.
Udhayanidhi Reacts to PM’s ‘Sleepless’ Remarks
Tamil Nadu Sports Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “sleepless” remarks and asserted that the DMK party is not going to sleep till the party sends PM Modi and the BJP back home in the Lok Sabha elections.
“PM Modi says DMK is unable to sleep. Yes, our sleep is lost until we send you home. We are not going to sleep till we make the BJP go home. The gas cylinder in 2014 was Rs 450 and now it’s Rs 1200. Since the election came, PM Modi has done drama and decreased Rs 100. After the elections, he will again increase the price of cylinders by Rs 500,” Udhayanidhi said addressing a campaign rally in Thiruvanamalai district.
The DMK leader said that last year, in December, during the time of Cyclone Michaung, PM Modi did not visit Tamil Nadu but since the elections are nearby, the Prime Minister is visiting the state.
“Our CM has sought funds for Tami Nadu post cyclone from the centre, but not even a single rupee has been given to us till now. In the next 22 days, our cadres will go to each and every house, take responsibility and make sure you all make DMK win,” he added.
He further said that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister would give petrol for Rs 75 and diesel for Rs 65.
“June 3 marks the 100th birth anniversary of (late politician and former chief minister) M Karunanidhi and June 4 is Lok Sabha election counting. We will give a gift by winning all the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” said the DMK leader.
Earlier on March 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress and said that the ‘ghamandia’ alliance is afraid of the pace at which development is being undertaken by the present government in the country.
“The Congress and its ‘ghamandia’ alliance have problems with the inauguration of these development projects. They are sleepless because of these development projects. The Congress doesn’t have the strength to talk about development. When I inaugurate developmental projects, they call it the ‘Chunavi strategy’. Negativity, and only negativity, is the true characteristic of Congress,” PM Modi said.
On Monday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin urged the people to utilise their votes to elect a ‘humane Prime Minister’.
While addressing the voters in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli, CM Stalin said that the people’s vote will decide if someone who respects the state and not hate the Tamilians becomes the PM.
Voting for all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu will be held in the first phase of the general elections on April 19.
In the 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, comprising the Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, and AIFB, registered a landslide victory, winning 38 of the 39 seats in the state.
In 2019, DMK won 23 Lok Sabha seats with a 33.2 per cent vote share, Congress bagged 8 seats with a 12.9 per cent vote and CPI won two seats in Tamil Nadu.
The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country will be held in seven phases starting April 19. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4. (ANI)
