S P Udayakumar, the Aam Aadmi Party candidate at Kanyakumari, who also heads the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), which is waging a relentless war to shut down the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, is worth Rs 5.23 crore, according to an affidavit filed by him with the returning officer.
Udayakumar and his wife Meera own assets worth Rs 5.23 crore. The affidavit says the couple own a fleet of cars and agriculture land in Kanyakumari and Tuirunelveli worth Rs 3.76 crore. They also own commercial buildings worth Rs 82 lakh. Meera owns jewellery worth Rs 19.8 lakh and has availed bank loan for Rs 2.97 lakh.
The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded three PMANE leaders to fight the lok sabha elections from Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli. While Pushparayan, deputy to Udayakumar is contesting the election from Thoothukudi , Jesuraj, a Catholic priest has filed his nomination from Tirunelveli. All the three candidates have the support of the powerful Roman Catholic Church in the region. The anti-nuclear agitation itself is sponsored by the Church. The agitation against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant itself has lost its sting with the Nuclear Power corporation of India ltd rebutting all the charges levelled by the PMANE leaders.