To contest as PMK candidate from Singanallur Assembly constituency
When Anbumani Ramadoss was introducing candidates the Pattali Makkal Katchi has fielded in Coimbatore and a few other districts, stood a young man in formal trousers and shirt.
Mr. Anbumani said that the young man was an engineer who has returned from the United Kingdom to serve the country. He also said that engineer, Ashok Jayendar APS, had around eight patents to his name.
A day latter in an exclusive chat with The Hindu , Mr. Ashok clarifies that he has a joint patent with an aircraft company and another that is pending. “It always nice to be honest and realistic,” is his refrain.
He was working for the company for over a year and later tried his hand at outsourcing in the U.K. before he returned home. “I gave up a job that made me richer by around Rs. 5.50 lakh a month to work for the country.”
“The urge was always there even when I was in college but it grew while working in Birmingham and other places when I got a chance to discuss politics with colleagues.” Even as he was discussing politics he was discussing his passion for politics with a few friends over social networking platforms.
Subsequently quit the job in 2014, returned home and after dabbling a bit in a few things set up an NGO, Team Achamillai. The NGO worked to improve the facilities in the Nehru stadium in the city, control usage of drugs among students and provide inputs for Smart City plan for Coimbatore, says Mr. Ashok.
In 2015, he decided to contest as an Independent in the Singanallur Assembly constituency and began doing the ground work. But why Singanallur? “The constituency profile kind of suited me,” he says and adds that he arrived at the decision after eight months of home work.
It was then that the meeting with Mr. Ramadoss happened. While participating in an interaction of his, he got a chance to pose a few questions. “I think, it was on Smart Cities or something. I asked a few questions and he spoke numbers. As the Brits say, by speaking numbers he had all the details. And, that impressed me.”
The Coimbatore interaction paved way for an invite from Mr. Ramadoss the next day. “This was about three or four months ago. I got an invite. I went to Tirupur, shared a few ideas and I was impressed,” he says.
He was initially keen on a position in the party’s IT wing, if offered a chance but when the offer for contesting the Singanallur Assembly seat came, he took it.
“Contesting as a candidate of a recognised political party definitely gives me a head start.”
Mr. Ashok Jayendar says he plans to improve road connectivity, water supply and expand the Singanallur bus stand, if voted to victory. “I don’t want to make tall promises as I understand the limitations of a legislator. Let’s be realistic.”
And, he has no plans to changing to dhoti to campaign. “I’m comfortable campaigning in trousers and I’ll do so,” fiddling his branded coolers.
When Anbumani Ramadoss was introducing candidates the Pattali Makkal Katchi has fielded in Coimbatore and a few other districts, stood a young man in formal trousers and shirt.
Mr. Anbumani said that the young man was an engineer who has returned from the United Kingdom to serve the country. He also said that engineer, Ashok Jayendar APS, had around eight patents to his name.
A day latter in an exclusive chat with The Hindu , Mr. Ashok clarifies that he has a joint patent with an aircraft company and another that is pending. “It always nice to be honest and realistic,” is his refrain.
He was working for the company for over a year and later tried his hand at outsourcing in the U.K. before he returned home. “I gave up a job that made me richer by around Rs. 5.50 lakh a month to work for the country.”
“The urge was always there even when I was in college but it grew while working in Birmingham and other places when I got a chance to discuss politics with colleagues.” Even as he was discussing politics he was discussing his passion for politics with a few friends over social networking platforms.
Subsequently quit the job in 2014, returned home and after dabbling a bit in a few things set up an NGO, Team Achamillai. The NGO worked to improve the facilities in the Nehru stadium in the city, control usage of drugs among students and provide inputs for Smart City plan for Coimbatore, says Mr. Ashok.
In 2015, he decided to contest as an Independent in the Singanallur Assembly constituency and began doing the ground work. But why Singanallur? “The constituency profile kind of suited me,” he says and adds that he arrived at the decision after eight months of home work.
It was then that the meeting with Mr. Ramadoss happened. While participating in an interaction of his, he got a chance to pose a few questions. “I think, it was on Smart Cities or something. I asked a few questions and he spoke numbers. As the Brits say, by speaking numbers he had all the details. And, that impressed me.”
The Coimbatore interaction paved way for an invite from Mr. Ramadoss the next day. “This was about three or four months ago. I got an invite. I went to Tirupur, shared a few ideas and I was impressed,” he says.
He was initially keen on a position in the party’s IT wing, if offered a chance but when the offer for contesting the Singanallur Assembly seat came, he took it.
“Contesting as a candidate of a recognised political party definitely gives me a head start.”
Mr. Ashok Jayendar says he plans to improve road connectivity, water supply and expand the Singanallur bus stand, if voted to victory. “I don’t want to make tall promises as I understand the limitations of a legislator. Let’s be realistic.”
And, he has no plans to changing to dhoti to campaign. “I’m comfortable campaigning in trousers and I’ll do so,” fiddling his branded coolers.