On Sunday, people in Thiruvananthapuram will wake up to the magnificent sight of both the Mysore Palace and the Akshardham temple greeting them from the suburbs of the state capital.
The Income Tax department scrutiny on mining baron Janardhan Reddy’s offices after his daughter’s recent wedding has surely not served as a deterrent to similar extravaganzas by others.
Controversial Kerala liquor baron and politician Dr Biju Ramesh is next in line to organize his daughter Megha’s grand wedding on Sunday. Biju Ramesh is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Rajadhani business empire headquartered in Kerala. Ramesh had contested as an AIADMK candidate from the Thruvananthapuram constituency. Why no one was surprised when he lost is a matter of pure conjecture, we daresay!
What makes it all the more interesting is that her groom is none other than Ajaykrishnan, son of Congress MLA from Konni and former state Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash in the previous UDF government.
Speaking to The News Minute, Biju Ramesh says that the idea of incorporating the Mysore Palace and the Akshardham temple replicas in design of the wedding venue was that of his friends.
“A replica of the Mysore palace will greet around 20,000-odd guests as they enter the wedding venue. Walking in through its gates, they enter the lobby area where they would be greeted, and then they move towards the stage which has been set up on the lines of the Akshardham temple," he told The News Minute.
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The Muhurtham is between 6-6.30 pm at the Rajadhani Gardens at Venpalavattom in Thiruvananthapuram. The reception begins by 5 pm. Reports say that well-known playback singer Shwetha Mohan along with dance group Thandav will perform from 6 pm at the 80,000 square feet wedding pandhal that has come up in the eight acres of land owned by the Rajadhani Group.
Ask him about how he would manage payments in these troubled times of demonetisation woes plaguing the entire country, Biju Ramesh sought to evade a direct reply.
The liquor baron hogged regional headlines when he turned whistleblower in the bar bribery scam that rocked the previous UDF regime, and contributed to its electoral downfall in the recently held state Assembly elections in May.
The grooms’ father -former minister Adoor Prakash- too came into the limelight following a recommendation of a Vigilance enquiry against him for allegedly demanding Rs 25 lakhs to sanction a ration depot at Omasseri in Kozhikode while in office. The then state Opposition had cried itself hoarse demanding his resignation.
Adoor Prakash however chose to remain tight-lipped about who all from the Congress party would attend the wedding.
He told The News Minute that there was no reason for a controversy over the participation of Congress leaders, despite KPCC President VM Sudheeran coming down heavily on Congress leaders- including former state Chief Minister Oommen Chandy- for taking part in the engagement ceremony.
“Weddings are a private affair and it is up to the guests to decide whether they need to attend it or not. From my part, I have extended invitation to all my party colleagues. There’s no room for any controversy here,” he reiterated.
That Adoor Prakash survived the Opposition onslaught despite his name cropping up in quite a few 'land' controversies, and went on to retain his MLAship in Konni stands testimony to his shrewd political acumen. And with the future alliance in place on Sunday, it should undoubtedly be a win-win situation for both sides.