MANGALURU: A woman, who was born and brought up in Bantwal of Dakshina Kannada district, is now a gram panchayat president in Kerala.
Bharathi S, 41, was elected as a gram panchayat (GP) member and elevated as the president of Vorkady GP in Manjeshwar constituency in the neighbouring state.
Born in a poor family, Bharathi did her schooling at Infant Jesus Higher Primary School, Modankapu in Bantwal taluk, and diploma in Mangaluru. Soon after her wedding about 15 years ago, Bharathi entered politics like her father U Ramachandra, who was an active worker of CPI in Bantwal.
After working for Communist Party of India (Marxist) and actively involving in self-help groups at Vorkady, she was given a ticket to contest the election from the CPI (M). After her hat-trick victory as the member, she was recently elected as the president of Vorkady GP.
Sunil Kumar Bajal, secretary of CPI (M) Mangaluru city south unit, told TOI that though she was born and brought up in a poor family in Bantwal, her active involvement in politics has helped her become the GP president. Though she has won from CPI (M), people of Bantwal, cutting across political lines, have felicitated her. She was honoured at a programme organised by Sri Bhairava Sangha in Parari village of Bantwal.
Former headmistress of Infant Jesus Higher Primary School, Stella D’Sa, said: “Bharathi had shown exemplary leadership qualities even when she was a student. It is a honour for me personally and the school that an alumni has become the president of a GP in the neighbouring state.”
Sangha honorary president Ramakrishna Alva said Bharati’s victory in Kerala has brought cheers among the people of Bantwal. Sangha president Rajesh Belchada said Bharathi has made her life meaningful by dedicating her life for poor people. “She has brought laurels to Tulunadu,” he added.