Kerala student to become one of the youngest mayors in the world

Twenty-one-year-old Arya Rajendran, who was elected to Trivandrum corporation in the recently concluded local body elections, has been selected as the Mayor of the city. Soon Arya, a final year science student, would enjoy the rare feat of being one of the youngest Mayors in the world.

Thiruvananthapuram: When John Tyler Hammons was elected as the 47th Mayor of Oklahoma in the United States, he also grabbed headlines for becoming the youngest city administrator in the world. On close heels is 21-year-old Arya Rajendran, who was voted to the capital city corporation of Kerala in the recently concluded local body elections in the State, has been selected to become the Mayor of the city.

Rajendran, a soon-to-be science graduate, would enjoy the rare feat of becoming one of the youngest Mayors alive on the planet.

The decision to raise Arya to the helm of Thiruvananthapuram city corporation was taken at the CPM district secretariat meeting. Arya won the local body from the ward Mudavanmukal.

She is the state president of children's wing of the CPM and a member of the SFI state committee, of which she is the youngest member.

The CPM district leadership has taken a revolutionary decision by handing over the mayor post of Thiruvananthapuram to the hands of a youngster, hoping to attract more young blood to the party.

Talking to ETV Bharat, Rajendra said, "My father has always been a branch committee member of the party. He has never asked me to join the party. He is a person who loves the party. And I have always believed that the left ideology is right. And that's why I joined the party. Development of Thiruvananthapuram's development should be put above all political beliefs. Be it the ruling party or the opposition."

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Jameela Sreedharan, daughter of N. Sreedharan, a member of the CPM state secretariat and Peroorkada ward councillor, had the utmost preference, after AG Olena and Pushpalatha, who were considered for the mayor post. But they lost the election.

The CPMs successful experimentation with former VK Prashant who elected to the State legislature also gave confidence to the party to bestow mayorship on Arya.

Arya's experience and knowledge in current political affairs were also factors which increased her chances.

According to party sources, former mayor VK Prashant's activities during his tenure helped the party to reach a simple majority of 52 seats this time.