Sooraj Ravi, new kid' on Congress block

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Another new kid on the block is trying to debut in the Assembly elections from Kollam — Sooraj Ravi, son of Thoppil Ravi, former Congress legislator and contemporary of senior Congress leaders Vayalar Ravi and A. K. Antony, KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Thoppil Ravi was a legislator in the 7th Assembly and died at the age of 48 in 1990. Sooraj Ravi is likely to contest from Kollam Assembly constituency.

There are other Ravi's too eyeing various Assembly constituencies - tainted KPCC general secretary Thampanoor Ravi and sitting MLA Palode Ravi.
In the last two Assembly elections, Kollam had eluded the Congress party. There have been requests from within the Congress that if they fielded newcomers and Youth Congress leaders, chances of winning several key seats could not be ruled out. 40-year-old Sooraj is currently the vice-president of Kollam DCC and belongs to the ‘A’ faction.

He was also the former Youth Congress State general secretary. When Vayalar Ravi was the KSU president, Sooraj’s father was also actively involved in the students’ wing of the Congress. Sooraj is hopeful of wresting the seat back from CPM’s P. K. Gurudasan this time.

“When my father died in 1990, I was studying in the tenth standard. I never expected to be a full time politician. But ever since I was in college, I climbed the success ladder from KSU unit secretary to Kollam DCC vice-president. I am confident of winning the Kollam seat. There used to be a graffiti during my father’s KSU and Youth Congress era three decades back, Thoppil – Vayalar –Thampanoor-Palode Ravi Sindabad”, said Sooraj.

His father was a former journalist with Malayala Manorama and his association with senior Congress leaders drew him into the political arena. Thoppil Ravi was considered a great orator in the Assembly. Sooraj’s wife, V. U. Anu is a lawyer practicing in the Kollam district court and the couple has two daughters, Shreya (6) and Sheetal (1).

Meanwhile, Thampanoor Ravi who is considered as one of the trusted lieutenants of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy recently got embroiled in the solar scam case when his telephone conversation with Saritha S. Nair was leaked to the media. He is eyeing the Nemom Assembly constituency in Thiruvananthapuram district and Palode Ravi, deputy Speaker, will be re-contesting from Nedumangad.