Guna-cave accident survivor, Mr Kerala & off-road champ are Kerala local body poll candidates, it’s not just ‘Insta’nt appeal

When the Congress decided to field Subhash Chandran as its candidate in Eloor municipality in Ernakulam, the reason was anybody’s guess or so did everyone assume. He inspired the Malayalam survival drama ‘Manjummel Boys’ based on the 2006 Guna Caves accident which had involved Subhash and his friends. The Congress wanted to milk its own share of fame the movie had generated. Subhash is tired of hearing this.  

“Everyone thinks I got this chance because of the movie’s success. That’s not true,” he says. A Congress sympathiser and once an active INTUC worker, he says politics is something he grew up with.

“Both my parents were in INTUC. I was active in INTUC too. Health complications from the fall forced me to step back, and I took up welding jobs to support himself. This opportunity didn’t come to me out of the blue,” he says.

Like Subhash, a swell of unlikely choices in candidature - a former Mr Kerala, a young Bharatanatyam dancer, a transgender candidate, an off-riding champion, and even a neighbourhood influencer, have lit up Kerala’s local body campaign. The parties ride on their connect, but go beyond their popularity to marshal their deep-rooted political ideologies and social work. 

Even the candidates are aware that they need to bridge the chasm between popularity and politics. 

“Just because the news went viral or a few extra people know my name, I don’t think it will make a big difference in the election. The people here have placed their trust in me,” says Subhash.

From gym floor to grassroots 
For 52-year-old Renju Cherian, a former Mr Kerala (1996) and long-time fitness trainer, stepping into electoral politics is less about ambition and more about honouring a legacy he grew up witnessing. Contesting from Ward 17 of the LDF-ruled Puthuppally panchayat, the same ward once nurtured by the late chief minister Oommen Chandy, Renju sees this election as a continuation of the values that shaped his life.

Renju’s connection to Chandy was deeply personal. 

His house stood right next to the former chief minister’s home, and he saw Chandy not as a distant public figure, but as a neighbour who showed up whenever someone needed help. “I have known him since childhood. Whenever anyone had a problem, he was there. Not just for us, but for every family in the neighbourhood,” Renju says. Growing up so close meant he saw the unfiltered, everyday moments that defined Chandy’s reputation for accessibility and compassion.

One episode has stayed with him for decades. “A mother and her 16-year-old daughter once came from Pathanamthitta with nothing but a school bag and hope,” Renju recalls. “Chandy sir had a packed schedule that day, yet he listened to them and immediately arranged financial support for her studies. He even wrote to the Pathanamthitta MLA to ensure she continued receiving help.” For Renju, this wasn’t an extraordinary act, but a reflection of who Chandy was every single day.

This influence eventually guided Renju into public life. In 2017, it was Chandy himself who asked him to take charge as president of his ward unit. Renju’s priorities mirror those of his mentor. His focus is the wellbeing of the youth, particularly addressing drug misuse and strengthening community support systems. Beyond politics, Renju is known for his decades-long work in fitness training. A former Mr Kerala and gym owner for thirty years, he has trained people of all ages, including inmates at the district jail.

Tapping real influence
In the newly formed ward; Aadhikkattukulangara South, at Palamel panchayat in Alappuzha, the CPM chose a 26-year-old social media influencer; Reshmi Rajendran as its candidate. 

Her daily Instagram feed featuring beauty tutorials, product reviews, and mini vlogs now assumes a purposeful tone with an array of posters which read, “Let the Youth lead, Vote for Reshmi Rajendran.”

The party looks beyond her 1 lakh followers on Instagram and nearly 50,000 subscribers on YouTube.

Coming from a middle-class family, Reshmi, a B.Com finance graduate prioritises issues affecting ordinary households and aims to focus on improving basic infrastructure such as roads, water supply, and housing.

“I grew up watching my father being active in politics. He is a CPM member. That has influenced me. When the new ward was formed and reserved for women, the party approached me. With the support of my family, I agreed. I’m from a middle-class family, and I know the needs and concerns of a normal family here,” Reshmi told Onmanorama.

“Being an influencer will help me reach people, but more than that, I was born and brought up here, the locals already know me well. So I don’t really need social media as a tool to connect with them,” she added.

Inclusive politics
Back in 2020, three transgender candidates had featured in the local body elections. Two nominations were rejected. In the run-up to the present elections, political parties were posed queries about fielding transgender candidates. 

The UDF’s choice of 35-year-old Amaya Prasad in the Pothencode division of the Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat may come across as a quick response. A brief profile of Amaya, corrects the narrative.

“The Transgender Policy was passed by the UDF government in 2014 and implemented in 2015. The subsequent government continued its work from 2016, but the UDF was the one that created space for the community from the start. Offering me a ticket is a statement, and it is a proud moment for the entire community. When someone like us contests and wins, it becomes easier to approach the state government and communicate our issues. This is not just for the community but for all the people in the division, from the smallest to the biggest concerns,” Amaya told Onmanorama.

A resident of Kalliyoor panchayat, Amaya prioritises public welfare and the overall development of Pothencode. 

Amaya serves as the state president of the Kerala Pradesh Transgender Congress (KPTC), the transgender wing of the KPCC. A BBA graduate, she was active in campus politics through the Kerala Students Union (KSU). She is also an actor, writer, social activist and entrepreneur. When asked why she chose the Congress, Amaya said the party “governs with peace and humility,” which is why she identifies with it.

Dancer vs DGP
Sasthamangalam, a key ward in Thiruvananthapuram municipal corporation, witnesses an interesting battle between former DGP R Sreelekha and a 26-year-old, dancer and HR executive Amritha R, the CPM candidate. Party leaders have traded taunts and spiced up the campaign.

Amritha banks on her early foray into the public sphere. A former Balasangham member, she was the SFI union general secretary at the Government Women’s college. She now balances a corporate job with an active social life that includes volunteering with NGOs, relief work during the floods, and community support during Covid.

Dance has been her constant since childhood. She started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of three and has participated in numerous competitions and stage performances over the years. Amritha says this artistic upbringing shaped her belief that culture can bring people closer, especially the younger generation who, she feels, often stay isolated and inward-looking. “I want to bring more arts and cultural events to Sasthamangalam so the youth come out, meet each other, and form real bonds. I believe art will bridge that gap,” she says.

Her decision to contest, she explains, is a natural extension of her home environment. “Both my parents and many in my family have been active in the party. I’ve seen that closely,” she says. So when the opportunity came, she felt it was the right moment to step forward. “I thought, why not take this as a chance to be closer to people, especially the younger generation?”

Off-road driver’s detour
Twenty-four-year-old Riya Bino, a schoolteacher and off-roading champion, is contesting as the UDF candidate from the Kaveekunnu ward in Pala. Riya, well known for her pulsating off-roading videos on social media, entered the sport through her father and uncle, both of whom are active off-roaders. She has participated in numerous events and is often seen driving a Mahindra 4x4 Jeep.

A teacher at British Kinder School, Pala, Riya said it was her family who encouraged her to contest. Riya said her priority is to address the concerns of every resident in the ward. “I want to work closely with people and resolve issues one by one. I intend to be accessible at all times — just a phone call away. My social media presence has helped me connect with many, and I see it as a tool to reach people effectively,” she told Onmanorama.

Her uncle, Jose J Cheermakuzhy, is also contesting the election, standing as the LDF candidate from the 10th ward. Riya has launched her campaign and completed the first round of outreach in the ward.