Thiruvananthapuram: BJP leader Alphons Kannanthanam who was picked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as first independent Administrator of Union Territory Chandigarh, is upbeat over his assignment. He is the first BJP leader from the state who has been given such a high profile post after Modi came to power in 2014.
“I think it is a very good assignment. I am pretty thrilled about the new role. With my experience as commissioner in Delhi and 30 years as an IAS officer, I will be able to rise up to the expectations of Chandigarh citizens. Besides, having served as an MLA I have interacted closely with people. With both these experiences combined together, I can do a great job in Chandigarh,” he told DC.
In a departure from the past, Kannanthanam will be only the head of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The practice so far has been to have Punjab Governor as UT Administrator.
Kannanthanam who will take charge next week, had shot into limelight in 90’s when as Commissioner of DDA he demolished 14,800 illegal structures, earning him the title “Demolition Man.” Ironically, he and his wife Sheela were brutally attacked by a mob led by BJP MLA Gyan Chand in October 1994.
His crusade against enroachments had earned him a place among 100 global leaders of Time Magazine in 1994. His experience will come handy in addressing the issues of Chandigarh which is spread over an area of 114 sq km and has a population of over 10.55 lakh of which more than 97 per cent is urban areas population.
