Tale of the Congress’ ‘surprise candidate’ in Kozhikode

The Congress which brought in filmmaker V.M. Vinu as a “surprise candidate” and a mayoral aspirant in the elections to the Kozhikode Corporation has found out that his name does not figure on the final voters’ list published on Sunday.

As per rules, candidates for the local body polls should have their names enrolled onto the voters’ list of wards/division from where they are planning to contest. Mr. Vinu, director of the Mohanlal-starrer blockbuster Balettan and Mammootty’s Vesham, among others, was probably the only film personality in the candidates’ list of the major political fronts in the State. The Congress was planning to field him from the Kallai ward and Mr. Vinu had already begun his campaign in style. He had also told the media that he would use the opportunity to do something for the city with which he has had an emotional attachment.

Mr. Vinu had expressed his wish to rejuvenate the Kallai river, immortalised in numerous movies and songs, around which once thrived a prosperous timber industry. The Kozhikode District Congress Committee has now decided to lodge a complaint with the District Collector and file a petition in the Kerala High Court against the exclusion of Mr. Vinu’s name, calling it another instance of “vote theft”.