Aruvanpalli Puthiyapurayil Abdullakkutty (born 8 May 1967) is an Indian politician. He was elected as the National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party on 26 September 2020. He has also served as the BJP Vice President of Kerala state.[2][3] He is also a former member of Lok Sabha from Kannur and former MLA from Kannur constituency of Kerala state.
A. P. Abdullakutty | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 1999–2009 | |
| Preceded by | Mullappally Ramachandran |
| Succeeded by | K. Sudhakaran |
| Constituency | Kannur |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2009–2016 | |
| Preceded by | K. Sudhakaran |
| Succeeded by | Kadannappalli Ramachandran |
| Constituency | Kannur |
| National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party | |
| Assumed office 26 September 2020 | |
| President | J. P. Nadda |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 May 1968[1] Kannur, Kerala, India |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party (since 2019) |
| Spouse |
Dr. V. N. Rosina (m. 2000) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | S. N. College, Kannur[1] |
Early life and politics
editHe was a leader during his college days, Abdullakutty became the General Secretary of Calicut University Students' Union in 1989. He served as Member of the Kannur District Panchayat from 1995 to 1999. He was elected to Parliament from Kannur Lok Sabha constituency twice (1999–2009) and was one of the youngest MPs of the country during that time. In 2008,[4] he praised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi,[5][6] and was expelled from CPI(M) in 2009.[7] He subsequently joined INC.[7] He represented the Kannur Lok Sabha constituency of Kerala in the 13th and 14th Lok Sabha (two terms) and was a Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2009 to 2016.
During May 2019, in a Facebook post, Abdullakutty praised some of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's schemes, such as the Swachh Bharat Mission (cleanliness drive), and the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana for free LPG connection.[8] He added that the "NDA's victory was an acceptance of Prime Minister Modi's development agenda and the secret of his success was that he adopted Gandhian values",[8] and further stated that "Through 'Swacchhta Bharat' PM gave toilets to 9.26 crore families, also gave free LPG connections to six crore families." After Abdullakutty's favorable appraisal of the prime minister, he was expelled from his party, the Indian National Congress (INC) in June 2019.
After a meeting with Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah on 24 June 2019, Abdullakutty was invited to join the BJP, and he formally joined BJP on 26 June 2019.[9] Abdullakutty received the BJP membership from party working president J. P. Nadda, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Minister of Steel, Bhupender Yadav, Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha and National General Secretary of the BJP, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP (Upper house) and the vice-chairman of the Kerala wing of Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was among those present to greet him. He contested as NDA candidate in 2021 Malappuram Lok Sabha by-election against IUML Candidate M P AbduSamad Samadani and SFI national president VP Sanu and lost in a big margin.[10]
Controversies
editOn 17 January 2009, CPI(M) Mayyil Area committee suspended Abdullakutty from the party for one year for praising the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's Gujarat development model.[11][12]
On 11 March 2014, Kerala Police registered an FIR against Kannur MLA AP Abdullakutty on rape charges based on the complaint filed by solar scam accused Saritha S Nair on Monday. In her complaint Saritha Nair alleged that she was raped by Abdullakutty at Mascot hotel in Thiruvananthapuram prior to her arrest in the solar scam. Cantonment women's police in Thiruvananthapuram said that no date or time of the incident is mentioned in her complaint.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Abdullakutty, Shri A.P." Biographical Sketch Member of Parliament 14th Lok Sabha. Archived from the original on 23 June 2006.
- ^ "Former Congress MLA AP Abdullakutty made Kerala BJP vice-president". The New Indian Express.
- ^ "Kerala leader Abdullakutty named BJP national vice president, Vadakkan gets spokesperson post". The New Indian Express.
- ^ "MP calls Modi's development initiatives praiseworthy". ZeeNews.com. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011.
- ^ "Now, Abdullakutty hails Modi, wants Kerala to follow his example". The Indian Express. 30 December 2008.
- ^ "Abdullakutty finds out CPM is not India Inc". The Economic Times. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- ^ a b "A P Abdullakutty to join BJP". Keralakaumudi Daily. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Congress expels Abdullakutty for praising PM Modi". The Times of India. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- ^ "Kerala Congress MLA AP Abdullakutty meets PM Modi and Amit Shah; to join BJP soon". The Times of India.
- ^ "AP Abdullakutty is BJP candidate for Malappuram bypoll, CPM likely to name VP Sanu". The Indian Express. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "CPM suspends MP Abdullakutty for praising Modi". IBNLive. 17 January 2009.
- ^ "Expelled by CPM, Congress for 'pro-Modi views', Kerala leader joins BJP". 26 June 2019.
- ^ Binduraj, J. (11 March 2014). "FIR filed against Kannur MLA based on rape charges by Saritha S Nair". India Today. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ "CBI Takes Over Solar Scam Probe, Case Against Top Kerala Congress Leaders". NDTV. 17 August 2021.
External links
edit- "Current Lok Sabha Members Biographical Sketch". 23 June 2006. Archived from the original on 23 June 2006. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Abdullakutty MP". 22 January 2009. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009.
- "PM Ujjwala Yojana Apply Online | प्रधानमंत्री उज्ज्वला योजना 2022 | फ्री रसोई गैस कनेक्शन | @pmuy.gov.in". Hindi Government Schemes. 22 January 2022.
- "Mathrubhumi". 18 January 2009. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009.
- "'I am a Communist who believes in God'". Rediff.
- Nazeer, Mohamed (9 March 2009). "Abdullakutty's expulsion triggers speculation". The Hindu.