Actor Tiny Tom has expressed public support for KPCC general secretary Deepthi Mary Varghese after she was denied the post of Kochi Mayor. The actor shared a photograph with Deepthi on social media and accompanied it with a message suggesting that greater responsibilities awaited her beyond the mayoral post.

“Always with my Maharaja’s College classmate. When something is lost, remember that something bigger awaits. Those who move slowly will reach the throne,” Tiny Tom wrote alongside the photograph.

Deepthi Mary Varghese had been projected by the United Democratic Front (UDF) as a strong contender for the mayor’s position. However, after internal discussions, the Congress party decided to appoint VK Minimol as Mayor. The decision was announced by the District Congress Committee (DCC) president on Tuesday evening.

Under the agreed term-sharing arrangement, Minimol will serve as Mayor for the first two-and-a-half years, after which Shiny Mathew will assume the post for the remaining two-and-a-half years.

Deepthi represents the Stadium Ward in the Kochi Corporation. Senior leaders within the party had argued that her seniority should be taken into account, particularly as she is the only KPCC general secretary elected as a councillor in the most recent local body elections.

A section of the party had also demanded that the mayoral post be given to a representative from the Latin Catholic community. Despite party guidelines favouring individuals holding senior organisational positions, Deepthi’s exclusion has drawn criticism from within Congress circles.

The episode has triggered renewed debate within the party over leadership selection and internal decision-making processes in the Kochi Corporation.