Arya Rajendran thanks party leaders and workers after taking oath in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. Photo/ Ashraf Padanna

Ashraf Padanna, Correspondent

With an eye on the upcoming legislative Assembly polls in April/May next year, political fronts are infusing young blood into the body politic as never before by nominating novices to head corporations, municipalities and village panchayats, not to mention district and block panchayats.

Ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) fired the first salvo by nominating 21-year-old Arya Rajendran to become India's youngest mayor in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

CPI-M has chosen her as its mayor candidate after the party's district and state committees endorsed her candidature. Arya, a second year degree student, is a first-time councillor from Mudavanmugal division of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

Arya Rajendran smiles during the oath taking ceremony. 

She defeated Congress candidate Sreekala by 2,872 votes. She is also the president of Balasangham, the children's wing of CPIM and a functionary of Students Federation of India (SFI), apart from being party’s area committee member.

At 21, Arya is set to become the youngest mayor in the country. Arya Rajendran said health and education will be her top priorities.

"I will focus on improving health and education facilities,” she told media persons. Waste management is also on Arya's check list.

Many celebrities, including superstars Kamal Hasan and Mohanlal, and industrialist Gautam Adani congratulated the student-mayor.

"Absolutely stunning and India's demographic dividend at its best,” tweeted Adani, who is building India’s largest port in the city and is poised to run its airport.

"This is how young political leaders shape paths and inspire others to follow. This is Incredible India!” Mohanlal, who is her neighbour though he lives mostly away from the city, telephoned her and wished all success.

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"Thiruvananthapuram is one of the most liked cities in the state. It is an ideal opportunity to make it more beautiful," he told her. "Time for a representative of the 51% of India's population that's under 25 to lead!” Congress party leader Shashi Tharoor, who is a parliamentarian from the city, tweeted.

CPIM-led Left Democratic Front retained the corporation, winning 53 of the 100 divisions in the recently held local body polls. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which boasted of snatching power from CPIM, is the main opposition with 35 seats.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) was relegated to the third place with only 10 councillors. There are also four independent members in the Corporation council.

Arya Rajendran takes oath on Monday.  

A 22-year-old post graduate student of Bengaluru’s Christ Deemed-to-be-University will become one of the youngest panchayat presidents in the country.
Johnys P Stephen, a final-semester MA English student is now set to chair Kerala’s Uzhavoor panchayat. He won as an Independent candidate from Ward 4 (Areekkara) of Uzhavoor panchayat which witnessed a hung house.

With both the UDF and LDF securing five seats each, Stephen’s group One India One Pension (OIOP) with two seats emerged as the kingmaker in the 13-ward panchayat.

Confirming the regional post-poll alliance in Uzhavoor, Kaduthuruthy MLA and former Public Works Department minister Mons Joseph said that the UDF will support ONOP’s young councillor Johnys P Stephen as the panchayat president in Uzhavoor.