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Kerala BJP Candidate Sonia Gandhi: This time in the Munnar Panchayat elections of Idukki district of Kerala, one name is making the most headlines. This name has caught the attention of people from all over the state and across the country. This name is of BJP candidate Sonia Gandhi. The first reaction on hearing the name is that it must be a mistake or a coincidence. But this name is very real in local politics and that is why this contest has become the most interesting.
The story of this candidate with a name similar to that of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi is as unique as this electoral situation. Interestingly, he was born in a family where the strong political legacy of Congress was present. But today he is contesting elections from the same party’s biggest rival BJP. This reversal is the reason for huge discussion among the voters.
Born in Congress family, new identity in BJP
Sonia Gandhi’s father, late Dure Raj, was a senior local Congress leader and was an active face of the party in Nallathani Kallar area. Out of respect for Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and emotional attachment towards his newborn daughter, he named her Sonia Gandhi. But the path of life often changes the equations of politics. Sonia’s political journey was also similar.
Father was a Congress leader, but after marriage he chose the path of BJP.
Changed political path after marriage
After the marriage of Sonia Gandhi, her political identity turned in a new direction. Her husband Subhash is an active BJP worker and currently holds the post of General Secretary of the Panchayat. One and a half years ago, he had also been the BJP candidate in the by-election in the old Molakkada ward of Munnar. Her husband’s political stance and family environment gradually associated Sonia with BJP, and now she is contesting the Panchayat elections on the ticket of the same party.
Challenge to rival Congress candidate
This contest has become very unusual for Congress candidate Manjula Ramesh. The reason is that many voters get confused at first sight after seeing “Sonia Gandhi (BJP)” written on the ballot paper. There have been many occasions in political history when similarity of name has divided votes and this factor becomes more effective in local body elections. For this reason, there is a slight uneasiness in the Congress camp that this election psychology might affect the results.
Who is Munnar’s Sonia Gandhi?
- Originally resident of Nallathani Kallar.
- Father Dure Raj is a senior leader of Congress.
- Name inspired by former Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
- Husband Subhash is an active leader of BJP and Panchayat General Secretary.
- Now himself in the election field as a BJP supported candidate.
Kerala Elections 2025: When, Where, How?
The 2025 local body elections will be held in two phases on December 9 and 11, while counting will take place on December 13. The first phase includes the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha and Ernakulam. In the second phase, voting will be held in Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod. People will cast their votes from 7 am to 6 pm. Real-time results will be released through Trend 2025 portal. A total of 1,199 local bodies will contest elections. These include Gram Panchayat, Block Panchayat, District Panchayat, Municipality and Municipal Corporation.
Why did this seat become the center of national discussion?
A Panchayat level election does not usually make it to the national news, but this unique equation of “Sonia Gandhi – BJP” was enough to arouse political curiosity. In Munnar, people are not only discussing the promises of the candidate, but also the unique impact of the name. This name is generating curiosity at the local level, while political analysts are considering it as a “psychological election factor”, which can make the final results interesting.
