P. Ravindhranath

P. Ravindhranath Kumar
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
30 May 2019 – 4 June 2024
Preceded byR. Parthipan
Succeeded byThanga Tamil Selvan
ConstituencyTheni
Personal details
Born (1980-02-03) 3 February 1980 (age 44)
Thenkarai, Tamil Nadu, India
Political partyIndependent[1]
(2022-present)
Other political
affiliations		All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam[1]
(2019-2022)
SpouseAnanthy Ravindhranath Kumar
ChildrenR. Jaideep, R. Jayashree and R. Aditya
Parents
Residence(s)Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu, India
ProfessionPolitician
NicknameOPR
Source: [1]

Panneerselvam Ravindhranath Kumar (born 3 February 1980), popularly known as P. Ravindhranath or OPR, is an Indian politician who was elected to the Lok Sabha following the 2019 Indian general election representing Theni Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu as member of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He is the son of O. Panneerselvam.

Career

Member of Parliament

P. Ravindhranath was elected to the Lok Sabha, lower house of the Parliament of India from Theni Lok Sabha constituency, Tamil Nadu in the 2019 Indian general election as member of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.[2][3] On 6 July 2023, Madras High Court declared his election as Lok Sabha MP, null and void.[4]

Election bribing

P. Ravindhranath was caught on camera bribing people for votes in a college premises while running for election in Theni Lok Sabha constituency during the 2019 Indian general election. The video shows Ravindhranath and O. Panneerselvam's supporters giving out money in a college premises. The administration of the college seems to have turned a blind eye to these activities and many claimed the bribers had reportedly paid the college's Imam to keep silent.[5] Court cases were filed citing the incident.[6][7]

Expulsion from AIADMK

On 14 July 2022, P. Ravindhranath was expelled as primary member of the party along with his younger brother Jaya Pradeep by the AIADMK Interim General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "AIADMK Interim General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami Expels 18 OPS' Supporters". abplive. 14 July 2022.
  2. ^ "First Timers From Tamil Nadu Set to Make Their Maiden Foray in Lok Sabha". News 18. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  3. ^ "AIADMK dejected as OPS' son Raveendranath Kumar fails to find a place in Modi cabinet". The New Indian Express. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Madras High Court declares 2019 election of Theni MP, P. Raveendranath Kumar, null and void". The Hindu. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Panneerselvam's son caught on camera while bribing voters in college premises". 9 August 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  6. ^ "HC notice to EC, AIADMK MP on election petition". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  7. ^ "HC notice to EC, AIADMK MP on election petition". Outlook India. Retrieved 9 August 2020.