Sonia Gandhi is contesting in the upcoming local body elections in Kerala, but not the one most people would first imagine.

In the Munnar panchayat’s Nallathanni ward (Ward 16), a BJP candidate named Sonia Gandhi has entered the fray. She shares her name with the former Congress president, but her political journey has taken a different path.

Her father, Durairaj, a staunch Congress loyalist, named her after the Congress leader he deeply admired for her political affinity. However, Sonia’s political alignment changed after her marriage to Subhash, who is a BJP supporter.

Now campaigning door to door draped in a saffron shawl, she introduces herself with confidence, telling voters, “I am Sonia Gandhi,” as she seeks support for the lotus symbol.

The contest in the ward has shaped into a tight triangular battle, with Sonia facing Manjula Ramesh of the Congress and Valarmathi of the CPM. 

The two phases of Kerala's local body elections are set for December 9 and 11. Munnar panchayat in Idukki district will go to the polls in the first phase on December 9.