Twenty-two-year-old Ann Sara Johnson was preparing for her first-semester LLB internal exams when local CPM leaders approached her with an unexpected offer—contesting the upcoming local body elections from the Mulanthuruthy division of the Ernakulam district panchayat. Ann, who joined the party less than a year ago, was taken by surprise but felt ready. She had earlier served as the college union chairperson at Alphonsa College, Pala, in 2023–24 while pursuing her BA in English Literature. The party released the candidate list for the Ernakulam district panchayat on Friday.

A native of Thuruthikkara in Mulanthuruthy, Ann credits her father, Johnson K Y, a realtor and former Congress worker, as the driving force behind her political interest. “Appa was a Congress worker for many years. He always wanted to grow in politics, but couldn’t. Now I feel I’m fulfilling that dream for him,” she told Onmanorama.

After completing her degree, Ann joined Government Law College, Thrissur, where she is now a first-year LLB student. Her involvement in public activities began early—during higher secondary school, she was active at the Science and Technology Centre in Thuruthikara, run by the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad.

“At home, everyone stood by me—especially Appa. He even contested the last local body elections as an independent candidate. There was never any pressure about which party I should choose,” she said. Johnson, once a KSU worker who contested for college union chairperson in his youth, had no hesitation about her entering CPM’s fold. “People joke about me carrying the LDF flag, as Appa was a Congress supporter. But he always backs me,” Ann added.

Her biggest support, she says, has always come from her family. “They pushed me to take part in everything from childhood.”

Although she felt inclined toward SFI during her studies in Pala, she chose not to join any campus organisation as the college discouraged party politics. Still, she remained active through social projects. “As the chairperson, I got the opportunity to lead a major initiative to make the campus 100 per cent sanitary-pad-free by distributing menstrual cups to all students and staff—a project supported by Nisha Jose, wife of MP Jose K Mani. Thus, I became close to them also,” she says. Ann considers it one of her proudest achievements. She also took part in community activities outside campus, including ‘pothichor’ distribution.

Once she entered law college, she began full-fledged political work. She is now active in SFI and serves as a committee member of the DYFI Mulanthuruthy zone. Studying law, she says, was another dream she shared with her father. “Appa wanted to be a lawyer too, but couldn’t. So I’m living that dream as well.”

According to Ann, the CPM approached her while she was preparing for her internals. “My name wasn’t being discussed earlier. I think the party wanted to give space to young faces.”

She is determined to balance academics and politics. “I won’t compromise on my studies. Semester exams are approaching. Even during the campaign, I will make time to learn.”

Beyond politics and academics, Ann is deeply involved in church activities. She has been the secretary of the youth wing of the Kochi Diocese of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church since her degree days. Her religious involvement, she says, coexists comfortably with her political choices. “People say communists don’t believe in God. I disagree. I’m active in forming women’s groups in the church, too.”

A classical dancer since the age of three, Ann also enjoys public speaking, singing and sports—especially softball and football. Her family remains her strongest pillar. Her mother, Jijy Simon, works in sales, and her younger sister, Sara, is a PharmD student.

“Everything begins at home,” Ann says. “Their support is my strength.” Ann has a heavy task at hand: to wrest the UDF seat. Mulanthuruthy is currently represented by Congress member Eldho Tom Paul.