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ELECTIONS '96

The victory of the vanquished

In his failure lies a victory. And that's the only consolation which Union Minister of State for Labour M P Veerendra Kumar has this time around.

When Congress debutant P Sankaran humbled him in Kozhikode, his home turf, Veerendra Kumar earned the name for being minister for the shortest term both at the state and at the Centre.

Veerendra Kumar, the state Janata Dal president, was initially confident of an easy victory. For one, Congress leader K Karunakaran's son K Muraleedharan, who had once defeated him, shifted to the Thrissur constituency. And two, one-time political heavyweight and former Union minister K P Unnikrishnan's candidature was rejected by the Congress leadership for the seat. Moreover, Prime Minister I K Gujral, his predecessor H D Deva Gowda and Union Civil Aviation Minister Chand Mahal Ibrahim had campaigned for Veerendra Kumar.

Veerendra Kumar, who was sworn-in as forest minister in the E K Nayanar-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala in 1987, occupied office for less than 48 hours before he was replaced by party colleague Professor N M Joseph.

He had been occupying the Union minister's portfolio only since April, in the Gujral government.

Veerendra Kumar has also served as the chairman of Press Trust of India and the managing director of the multi- edition Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi. UNI

Elections '98

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