Vakkom strengthened Congress from the roots, says Antony

Vakkom Purushothaman celebrates his 90th birthday

May 07, 2017 07:52 am | Updated 07:52 am IST - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Congress leader Vakkom B. Purushothaman at his ‘Navathi’ celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. Congress leaders A.K. Antony and V.M. Sudheeran are also seen.

Congress leader Vakkom B. Purushothaman at his ‘Navathi’ celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. Congress leaders A.K. Antony and V.M. Sudheeran are also seen.

Ninety years and counting, but Vakkom Purushothaman is going great guns and vouching for this is none other than Congress Parliamentary Board (CPB) member and former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who had worked closely with the nonagenarian Congress leader.

“They say that he is 90 years of age, but at heart he is very young and energetic. He still has a good memory and vast experience. I have known Vakkomji for long 50 years. From being an advocate, he had turned into a good politician. As the Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee president, he protected the Congress workers. Under him, it was the golden age of KSU and Youth Congress leaders.

He strengthened the party from the roots. He was very considerate to the common workers. He brought commoners closer to the party. He was a very good organiser and left his imprint in every field,” Mr. Antony said, heaping fulsome praise on Mr. Purushothaman at the function organised by the DCC here on Saturday.

Recalling Mr. Purushothaman’s administrative acumen, Mr. Antony said he was the best Tourism Minister the State has had. “As a speaker, he was like a headmaster to us and when I went to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the people there said they want Vakkomji as their Governor again. It was no different in Mizoram. He guided them well as a Governor. He is the most popular Governor there,” Mr. Antony said.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president M.M. Hassan, his predecessor V.M Sudheeran, V.S. Sivakumar and M. Vincent, MLAs, KPCC vice-president Thampanoor Ravi, writer George Onakkur, among others, spoke at the function which was hosted by the DCC.

DCC president Neyyattinkara Sanal chaired the meeting.

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