H. Vasanthakumar
 |
Vasanthakumar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 18 June 2019 – 28 August 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Pon Radhakrishnan |
| Constituency | Kanniyakumari |
| Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 25 May 2016 – 29 May 2019 | |
| Chief Minister | |
| Preceded by | A. Narayanan |
| Succeeded by | Reddiarpatti V. Narayanan |
| Constituency | Nanguneri |
| In office 17 May 2006 – 14 May 2011 | |
| Chief Minister | M. Karunanidhi |
| Preceded by | S. Manickaraj |
| Succeeded by | A. Narayanan |
| Constituency | Nanguneri |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Harikrishnan Vasanthakumar 14 April 1950 Agasteeswaram, Travancore–Cochin, Dominion of India (present-day Tamil Nadu, India) |
| Died | 28 August 2020 (aged 70) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Cause of death | COVID-19 |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Jefrin |
| Children | Vijay Vasanth, Vinothkumar, Thangamalar |
| Parent(s) | Father : Harikrishnan Nadar Mother : Thangammal |
| Relatives | Kumari Ananthan (Elder Brother) Tamilisai Soundararajan (Niece) |
| Occupation |
|
| Known for | Founder & Owner of Vasanth & Co, Vasanth TV |
Harikrishnan Vasanthakumar (14 April 1950 - 28 August 2020) was an Indian businessman and politician from Tamil Nadu, India. He was the founder and chairman of Vasanth & Co, the largest retail home appliance chain in Tamil Nadu. He also served as the founder and managing director of the Tamil satellite TV channel Vasanth TV.[1] He was elected as Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Nanguneri constituency in 2006 election and 2016 election.[2][3] He was elected as the Member of parliament to the 17th Lok Sabha from Kanniyakumari constituency in 2019 Indian general election.
Personal life
Vasanthakumar was born in Agastheeswaram in Kanniyakumari district, then in Travancore-Cochin to Harikrishnan Nadar and Thangammal on 14 April 1950.
Career
He started his career as a salesman in the early 70s. In the year 1978 he started a home appliances sales showroom Vasanth & Co, which has grown to be a chain of showrooms operating in all the districts of Tamil Nadu, Bengaluru and Puducherry.
Writings
Vasanthakumar wrote a book Vetripadi Kattu, which was released on 17 September 2006 by actor Rajnikanth and his wife Latha Rajnikanth. His next work Vetripadikkattu was set to be released on 15 February 2015 in Chennai. He was a sponsor and judge for cookery show "Saapida Vanga" of Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai. [citation needed]
Political career
Vasanthakumar won the 2006 Tamil Nadu assembly election to become a MLA, competing against S.P. Sooryakumar of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He gave an assurance to the voters that if his coalition came to power, the ambitious project of establishing a Special Economic Zone at Nanguneri with high-tech park would be considered.[4] He served as MLA from the Nanguneri constituency of Tirunelveli district between 2006 and 2011. He was the Vice-President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and also the Chairman of the TNCC Traders cell. He won the 2016 Tamil Nadu assembly election from Nanguneri Constituency with a tiny margin. Meanwhile he contested in the 17th Loksabha elections and won from Kanniyakumari constituency in 2019. He won against incumbent Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan with over 2,50,000 margin.
Death
Indian Parliamentarian Vasanthakumar had tested positive for COVID-19 on 11 August 2020 and was admitted to Apollo hospital[5]. He died at 7:00 p.m. on 28 August 2020 at the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai[6], due to complications brought on by the disease. He was 70.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Wayanad Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi and various other notable personalities expressed their condolences.[7]
References
- ^ "TV channel war in Tamil Nadu set to intensify". DNA. 12 August 2007.
- ^ "Plea to halt all trains at Nanguneri". The Hindu. 2 January 2009.
- ^ "Vasanthakumar to contest as Independent". The Hindu. 12 April 2004.
- ^ "Congress on strong wicket in Nanguneri". The Hindu. 5 May 2006.
- ^ "Congress MP from Kanyakumari H Vasanthakumar succumbs to COVID-19". The New Indian Express. The New Indian Express.
- ^ "Vasanthakumar, Kanyakumari MP, dies of Covid-19". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ "Tamil Nadu: Congress MP Harikrishnan Vasanthakumar passes away due to Covid-19". The Indian Express. Retrieved 28 August 2020.