A husband and wife belonging to rival political fronts have added a compelling personal dimension to the Pullur-Periya grama panchayat election, as M. Girija, 46, steps into the electoral arena for the first time, while her husband K. Vasu, 56, a CPI(M) Kannoth branch secretary, stays away from the contest. Despite their ideological differences, the couple maintains that politics has never disturbed the harmony of their household.
Ms. Girija, who hails from a staunch Congress family, is contesting from Kumbala (Ward 7) as the party’s candidate. This is her electoral debut, though political participation runs in the family — her aunt had earlier contested on the Congress ticket. She said that the family’s political split had never caused friction at home, even though discussions on political development are frequent.
Over the years, Ms. Girija had received offers from the Congress to contest from her ward — a division where the CPI(M) has been winning by narrow margins — but family responsibilities kept her away from the ballot. Active in social work and well known among residents, she said this was the right moment to step forward. Her campaign, she said, is rooted in personal connection rather than political rhetoric.
