Cover Story : My Concerns Remain the Same
December 5, 2023
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • International
  • More
    • G20
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Politics
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
MAGAZINE
No Result
View All Result
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • International
  • More
    • G20
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Politics
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • International Edition
  • RSS in News
  • Magazine
Home General

Cover Story : My Concerns Remain the Same

by
May 16, 2016, 12:00 am IST
in General
FacebookTwitterWhatsAppTelegramEmail

Dr Sebastian Paul

Dr. (Adv.) Sebatian Paul is the most prominent journalist turned politician in Kerala. A former MP and a former MLA, Paul is now contesting to the Kerala Assembly from Thrikkakkara constituency, Kochi.  
I do have a long political career. Even when I was in journalism I was involved in politics. While I was working in Indian Express, Kochi, in late 1970s, I contested to Kochi Corporation as a Janata Party candidate, of course with due permission from the management. Later on I started my legal practice and continued my political activities as Janata Party man and later on as a Janata Dal man.
Mine was always an anti-Congress political stand. During my days in Maharaja’s College and later on in Law College, Kochi, I was a student activist against Congress politics. We had even floated a movement called Progressive Front in the campus.
Perhaps, that is the reason my approach has not changed much in my journey from journalism to politics. In both the careers I have always been taking keen interest in matters concerning fundamental rights and human rights.
My first formal entry in electoral politics was in 1997 when I contestested Lok Sabha elections from Ernakulam in a by-election after the death of the then MP from the constituency.  I won that election. But, when I contested again in 1998, luck was with my opponent. Immediately after that failure I contested the by-election to the state assembly from Ernakulam. I won that election and continued to be an MLA till 2001. In the elections of 2001, I lost to Prof. KV Thomas of Congress. When sitting MP George Eden of Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency expired in 2003, I was elected by defeating the Congress candidate. I was again elected to the Lower House of the Parliament in 2004, defeating the Congress candidate. In the 2011 Assembly polls, I lost to George Eden. Now, I am pitted against Congress’s PT Thomas in the Assembly elections.  In all elections until 2011, I was an independent candidate supported by CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and always remained close to CPM.
I was a member of the Standing Committee for the Ministry of External Affairs, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Railways and Committee of Privileges and the Press Council of India. I have the rare record of contesting six elections within a span of seven years and winning four of them; all from the same constituency and as an independent candidate.
I am very pleased that I always balanced between my three professions. In that sense, I was never a full time politician. I did not abandon my legal practice, media critic programme for the channels, channel debates, newspaper columns and writing the books. I also conduct coaching classes for the candidates appearing for the examinations for the judicial appointments. I could successfully accomplish all these different assignments. So, I do not feel that life has changed after jumping into more active electoral and parliamentary politics. I still continue my book writing. Law, Ethics and the Media is my latest book. I cannot remember any specific instance. As a journalist, my mission was to create awareness, public opinion, etc. But, when I entered parliamentary politics, I could take pro-active role in developmental issues, simply because you are so close to the “power” through electoral politics. This sort of proximity with the “power” helped me a lot to expedite the developments, construction of bridges or roads, etc. In another words, I could interfere in my constituency’s affairs in an authentic manner, perhaps as a journalist I could have never able to do.  
It is interesting to note that despite my ideological propinquity with the Left Front, I always remained independent candidate. First time in my political life I am technically seeking votes on the official symbol of CPM.  
(Dr Sebastian Paul is a former MP and MLA from Kerala and now contesting Assembly Elections as a CPM candidate. As told to Organiser Correspondent T Satisan.)  

ShareTweetSendShareSend
Previous News

Tamil Nadu : Manifesto seeks to stifle Hindutva voices

Next News

Cover Story/Media Monopoly : Musings on Media

Related News

Maharashtra: PM Modi commends Sindhudurg Fort as a source of national pride 

Maharashtra: PM Modi commends Sindhudurg Fort as a source of national pride 

AAP faces humiliation in recently concluded State Assembly polls; loses all seats and trails behind NOTA

AAP faces humiliation in recently concluded State Assembly polls; loses all seats and trails behind NOTA

High ‘good cholesterol’ is linked to risk of dementia: Study

High ‘good cholesterol’ is linked to risk of dementia: Study

India to use Artificial Intelligence apps to foster translation of numerous official languages for ease of citizens

India to use Artificial Intelligence apps to foster translation of numerous official languages for ease of citizens

Madhya Pradesh: Retired sanitation worker Latif Khan, arrested for urinating on the wall of a temple in Ujjain

Madhya Pradesh: Retired sanitation worker Latif Khan, arrested for urinating on the wall of a temple in Ujjain

UDAN 4.0: India to empower tourism, connectivity by linking airports in Northeast with Southeast Asian cities

UDAN 4.0: India to empower tourism, connectivity by linking airports in Northeast with Southeast Asian cities

Load More

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

Maharashtra: PM Modi commends Sindhudurg Fort as a source of national pride 

Maharashtra: PM Modi commends Sindhudurg Fort as a source of national pride 

AAP faces humiliation in recently concluded State Assembly polls; loses all seats and trails behind NOTA

AAP faces humiliation in recently concluded State Assembly polls; loses all seats and trails behind NOTA

High ‘good cholesterol’ is linked to risk of dementia: Study

High ‘good cholesterol’ is linked to risk of dementia: Study

India to use Artificial Intelligence apps to foster translation of numerous official languages for ease of citizens

India to use Artificial Intelligence apps to foster translation of numerous official languages for ease of citizens

Madhya Pradesh: Retired sanitation worker Latif Khan, arrested for urinating on the wall of a temple in Ujjain

Madhya Pradesh: Retired sanitation worker Latif Khan, arrested for urinating on the wall of a temple in Ujjain

UDAN 4.0: India to empower tourism, connectivity by linking airports in Northeast with Southeast Asian cities

UDAN 4.0: India to empower tourism, connectivity by linking airports in Northeast with Southeast Asian cities

World Hindu Congress 2023: A journey of self-discovery

World Hindu Congress 2023: A journey of self-discovery

Uttar Pradesh: Protests erupt after missionary school suspended student for chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan

Uttar Pradesh: Protests erupt after missionary school suspended student for chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan

Mizoram: Zoram People’s Movement register resounding win; Lalduhoma set to become CM; Zoranmthaga and MNF face defeat

Mizoram: Zoram People’s Movement register resounding win; Lalduhoma set to become CM; Zoranmthaga and MNF face defeat

World Hindu Congress 2023: Hindu Unity for Dharmic Victory

World Hindu Congress 2023: Hindu Unity for Dharmic Victory

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • North America
    • South America
    • Europe
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Entertainment
  • More ..
    • Sci & Tech
    • Vocal4Local
    • Special Report
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Law
    • Economy
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
  • Subscribe Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Policies & Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Refund and Cancellation
    • Terms of Use

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies