BJP fields Anil Antony, Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Kerala eyeing 'double digit' victory
Chandrasekhar likely to contest against Shashi Tharoor
New Delhi: In a move towards securing a substantial foothold in Kerala, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently lacks representation in the Lok Sabha, the party has nominated Anil Antony and Rajeev Chandrasekhar for the upcoming elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently expressed the party's aspiration to achieve a two-digit figure in Kerala, setting the stage for a fierce electoral battle.
Anil Antony, son of former defense minister AK Antony, will contest from Pathanamthitta, while Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Electronics and Information Technology, and Ministry of Jal Shakti, will make his Lok Sabha debut from Thiruvananthapuram. Chandrasekhar, a technocrat with a background at Intel, previously served as a Rajya Sabha member and holds a significant portfolio in the Union Cabinet.
The BJP aims to bolster its presence in Kerala by fielding strong contenders, including Suresh Gopi from Thrissur, Muraleedharan from Attingal, and Shobha Surendra from Alappuzha. Rajeev Chandrasekhar is expected to face Congress's Shashi Tharoor, the incumbent MP from Thiruvananthapuram, in what is anticipated to be a closely watched contest.
Anil Antony, who joined the BJP in 2023, previously headed the Congress Kerala digital media cell. His decision to switch parties caused a stir, as his father, AK Antony, a long-serving Congress leader, did not endorse his move. In the BJP, Anil Antony serves as the national secretary and a national spokesperson.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, known for his technocratic background and entrepreneurial endeavors, has played a pivotal role in sectors such as telecommunications. With a successful stint at Intel and founding BPL Mobile in India, he later sold his stake to the Essar Group. Chandrasekhar founded Jupiter Capital in 2005, accumulating significant investments in technology, media, hospitality, and entertainment.
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Adani, nephew not charged under US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Adani Green
New Delhi: Billionaire Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani have not been charged with any violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment filed by US authorities in a court in a bribery case, the Adani Group said on Wednesday.
Gautam Adani, founder chairman of the ports-to-energy conglomerate, Sagar Adani and another key executive, Vneet Jaain, have been charged by the US Department of Justice with being part of an alleged scheme to pay USD 265 million in bribes to Indian officials to win contracts for supply of solar electricity that would yield USD 2 billion profit over a 20-year period.
In a stock exchange filing, Adani Green Energy Ltd, which is at the centre of the bribery allegations, said reports claiming that the three have been charged with FCPA violations "are incorrect".
They have been charged with offences that are punishable with a monetary fine or penalty.
"Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain have not been charged with any violation of the FCPA in the counts set forth in the indictment of the US DOJ or civil complaint of the US SEC.
"These directors have been charged on three counts in the criminal indictment, namely (i) alleged securities fraud conspiracy, (ii) alleged wire fraud conspiracy, and (iii) alleged securities fraud," the filing said.
The Adani Group has denied all allegations and said it will take all possible legal recourse to defend itself.
A criminal indictment has been filed before the United States District Court Eastern District of New York by the Department of Justice in the case of USA against Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain.
"The indictment does not specify any quantum of any fine/penalty," the company said.
The civil complaint alleges that the executives violated certain sections of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Act of 1934, and aided and abetted Adani Green Energy Limited's violation of the Acts, it said.
"Although the complaint prays for an order directing the defendants to pay civil monetary penalties, it does not quantify the amount of penalty," it said.
