Politicians often use different tactics to grab the attention of their ‘masters’ and H Vasanthakumar, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), who has spent four decades in active politics, is no different. In a bid to prove that he would always remain loyal to United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, this “grassroot” worker spent Rs 60 lakh in a series of political and business advertisements that appeared in newspapers in Delhi and all the southern states on January 1.
Vasanthakumar claims that he has been a member of the Congress party for more than 40 years. He was among the richest candidates to contest the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu last year from Nanguneri constituency, though he could not repeat his 2006 victory.
“I took this advertisement out to declare that I will remain at Madam’s feet, as Sonia Gandhiji is a great leader,” Vasanthakumar told Business Standard. Vasanthakumar is also the president of the traders’ cell of TNCC. The advertisement is based on a story from the Ramayana, in which Ram, after his victory over Ravana, asks Hanuman how he can repay him for his friendship. To this Hanuman replies, “Let me remain at your feet forever.”
The 61-year-old businessman is the chairman of a television channel, Vasanth TV, which was inaugurated by “the golden hands of Madam Sonia Gandhiji, unprecedently from her residence at 10 Janpath, New Delhi, on May 5, 2008”. He also owns Vasanth & Co, a large chain of consumer electronics and home appliances having more than 40 branch offices in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Soon after the full-page advertisement appeared in an English newspaper in Delhi and also in newspapers in the southern states, Vasanthakumar is flooded with calls from people, both known to him and unknown, congratulating him. Some, however, accuse him of promoting sycophancy.
“We are receiving a huge number of calls this time, though Vasanthakumar has been giving such advertisements for many years. We have a separate folder in which we have collected all such advertisements given by him in various newspaper. The advertisement was part of the political and business advertisement package,” said Rajan, a close associate of Vasanthakumar.
The multi-millionaire Congress member has also written a book, Vetrikodi Kattu, based on his life and personal experiences, which was released by superstar Rajinikanth on September 17, 2006. Interestingly, Vasanthakumar’s son has also worked in a couple movies.
