Was Vijayaraghavan's name considered for AMMA's top job? Politicking thickens as elections near

Rumours and speculations are flying thick and fast as the Malayalam actors' body prepares for the general body election on August 15. Actors Jagadish and Shwetha Menon, who held key positions in the previous panel, are the frontrunners for the post of president in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). Candidates are expected to submit their nominations till Thursday and the final list will be published on July 31.

Although there were speculations that veteran actor Vijayaraghavan and Kunchacko Boban would be competing in this year's AMMA presidential race, their names did not appear on the nomination list.

Vijayaraghavan told Onmanorama that he never expressed interest in leading the 30-year-old Association. "I have been part of three executive committees and I am not in a position to be the president. There may have been people who wanted me to become president. I am glad they considered my name, but I am not someone who can lead the AMMA. Let younger people come to the forefront," said the actor.

If Shwetha Menon wins, she will become the first woman to hold the key position in the Association's history. Mohanlal had served as the president of AMMA for six consecutive years. In 2024, he was elected unopposed. But after sexual abuse against key members of the Association surfaced, he stepped down after a few months.

According to some reports, Shwetha Menon was asked to compete against Jagadish as some members were unhappy with how the actor had reacted to the Hema Committee report exposé last year. "Many people within the previous general body felt bad that Jagadish's stance reeked of a double standard while dealing with the issue last year. We felt Shwetha was the right person to compete against him. She may not have his level of experience, but she is equally capable of leading the Association," said a source close to the Association.

Navya Nair submits nomination

Actor Navya Nair, who shifted to Kochi a few years ago, has also submitted nominations. However, it is unclear whether she will be competing for a key position or as part of the executive committee. Actors Jomol and Unni Mukundan, who were part of the previous panel, have not submitted their nominations this year. A total of 74 nominations have been submitted for the elections.