KOCHI: The 55-year-old T.J. Vinod, who has been elected to the Legislative Assembly, began his political career during the college days at St Paul's College, Kalamasserry, where he joined for Bcom in 1982. Born on 1962 April 6 to the late Joseph and Celine Joseph, the Kochi city (Thammanam) native became KSU unit president at the college in 1982-83 and later became KSU city unit general secretary.
In 1983, he became St Paul's College union chairman which he repeated in 1984. Next year he became KSU district general secretary. From 1993 to 2002, he was the Ernakulam district general secretary of Youth Congress. In 1992 he was elected Ernakulam DCC member and became a Kochi Corporation councillor in 1995.
Mr Vinod was the development standing committee chairman in Kochi Corporation in 2010. He became Kochi Corporation Deputy Mayor for nine months in 2002.
In 2015 he again became Kochi Corporation Deputy Mayor, a position which he is still holding. A staunch I group loyalist and confidant of Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala, Mr Vinod was appointed Ernakulam DCC president on December 12, 2016. He was also the president of Ernakulam District Archery Association. His wife is Shimitha Vinod , children: Sneha (BTech student) and Varun (Class IX).
Commenting on his victory, Vinod said that his victory is a blow to the policies pursued by the Pinarayi Vijayan Government.
