Until a few weeks ago, 49-year-old Minimol G.B.’s mornings were unhurried. Her day began after 9 a.m., making house calls, distributing medicines, checking on residents, offering help with medical needs, and hearing out their grievances. Now, frenzied campaigning for the local body elections punctuates the day of this Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA).
“As an ASHA, I can only help people with their medical needs. But I want to do more. Sometimes people approach me regarding their pension and other things. I will normally pass on the issue to the councillor. But I want to help people more and by being their representative I can do more,” says Minimol, who continues to carry out her field duties as an ASHA amidst her busy campaigning schedule.
Ever since the implementation of 50% reservation for women in local self-government bodies, political parties have been trying to field the best among the grassroots level workers as candidates. So ASHAs, Haritha Karma Sena members, and Akshaya representatives are all being made candidates.
Among the 36,438 Haritha Karma Sena workers, 547 are contesting across the State.
Minimol is contesting from the Kuravankonam ward in Thiruvananthapuram, having worked as an ASHA for the past 7 years. “Perhaps the party (Bharatiya Janata Party) approached me because I am an ASHA. Plus I was part of our protest for over eight months. Maybe my work during the time of the pandemic also influenced their decision,” she says.
As per unofficial figures, each district has around 30 ASHAs standing for the elections.
“Following the reservation of seats for women in local bodies, political parties have been approaching the ASHAs. Sometimes all the three prominent fronts pressurise the same individual; there have been cases when ASHAs decided against contesting after facing pressure from the parties. An ASHA knows each nook and cranny of the ward they are working. This is why the seats are offered to them,” says S. Mini, State vice-president of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association.
37-year-old Remya resigned from the Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) a year ago. But perhaps it is the time she spent there, earning people’s confidence and trust, that led to her selection as a candidate. Having worked for five and a half years since 2018 in Ward 3 (Ambadimala) of the Chottanikkara grama panchayat as part of the HKS, Remya says she is proud and confident to have been chosen by the Left Democratic Front. “Most of the time when we are engaged with the work here, we come across people and their problems. They would be eagerly waiting for our arrival to share their problems. So I am familiar with the people and their issues and I am confident that I can help them,” says Remya. “Since people here know me, they are extending all support. All they ask me is to be with them and help them when the need arises,” says Remya.
G.K. Sreeraj, secretary, Akshaya Welfare Association, says that Akshaya employees are another favoured lot when it comes to elections. “An Akshaya employee knows almost every one in the ward. But most of the time, the employees are not that enthused by the prospects. They often refuse to contest as they might find it difficult to carry out the duties at the Akshaya centre if they become a ward member,” says Mr. Sreeraj.
Having worked as an ASHA for 18 years and spent 21 years in Kudumbashree, Raji S.B. might have the odds stacked in her favour. Raji comes from a family of Congress functionaries, so this step was a natural progression for her. “I like working for people and the response from the people has been very positive,” says Raji.
Published – November 27, 2025 09:31 am IST
