Kumar Mangalam gainer in Birla will

“Kumar Mangalam will play an active role in some of my companies like Kesoram Industries and Century Enka. I am yet to decide what can be given to my daughter Manjushree,” BK Birla today said.

Asked if this indicates a change in his previously announced succession plan, Birla, who celebrated his 86th birthday in February, said he has decided not to hand over Kesoram to Manjushree alone, as “it is a large diversified company”.

The Rs 2500-crore Kesoram operates in two core areas, cement and tyres (Birla Tyres is a division of the company), while it has presence also in products like rayon yarn, spun pipes, chemicals and transparent papers.

According to BK Birla’s much publicised succession plan, younger daughter Manjushree Khaitan was supposed to get Kesoram.

She is already a director while his other daughter, Jayshree Mohta, was supposed to continue with managing Jay Shree Tea & Industries.

Asked by the shareholders of Century Enka, where Birla came to attend the company’s AGM, when they could see his grandson taking over the control of the company, Birla said it could possibly happen only “after my demise”.