First-timers galore on CPM list for Thiruvananthapuram Corporation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM has lined up first timers as candidates in most of the wards as it hopes to retain power in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, and several young cadres have ensured tickets in some of the crucial wards across the city.

The youngest of them will be 21-year-old Vidya Mohan who will contest from Thycaud, a sitting seat of the Congress-backed CMP. Vidya, a BSc electronic graduate, is the daughter of Mohan and Ambili who have been popular in party circles here.

Vidya had started of with Balasangham, and later joined SFI and was elected as the Union President of University Institute of Technology (UIT), Kuravankonam. She is known in the ward as the frontrunner of rooftop farming under the aegis of Karshaka Thozhilali Sangham.

Also from the young blood brigade is Anju SR, 22, who hopes to retain the LDF seat at Muttathara. The third year LLB student is the SFI District Committee member and had proved her mettle as the General Secretary of the Women's College Union.

In the prestigious Kazhakoottam seat, former DYFI district Secretary VK Prasanth, 35 has been fielded. He has the previous experience of being the youngest member in the panchayat elections when he won in Kariyil ward of Kazhakootam in 2004.

As he makes a return, Kazhakoottam has turned into a Corporation ward from being a panchayat.

Unnikrishnan, 34 of Karumom, a former Kerala University councilor will contest from Pappanamcode ward. DYFI's state committee member IP Binu, 38 who will contest from Kunnukuzhy ward will be another formidable contender. He had been the party's organizer for every second agitation launched against the Congress-led government in recent times.