21-year-old BSc student from Kerala set to become India's youngest mayor

A 21-year-old BSc Mathematics student from Kerala is set to create history in politics. Arya Rajendran is set to become the mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. When she is officially sworn in, the second-year student at All Saints College in Thiruvananthapuram will become the youngest mayor in the country.

In the recent civic body polls, she won from the Mudavanmugal ward as a CPI(M) candidate, defeating the UDF candidate Sreekala by over 2,500 votes. She was the youngest candidate in the elections.

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On Friday (December 25), the CPI(M) district committee held a meeting and chose Arya for the mayor’s post. The party won 51 out of the 100 seats, while the BJP is the main opposition with 35.

Speaking to media, Arya said she will abide by her party’s decision and added that the people voted for her for being a student.

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“It’s the decision of the party and I abide by it. During the elections, people preferred me as I am a student and the public wanted their representative to be well educated. I will continue my education and will discharge my duties as a mayor,” Arya, who is the state president of Balasangham (children’s organisation affiliated to her party), said.

Arya’s father Rajendran is an electrician, while her mother Sreelatha is an LIC agent. Arya is also a state office bearer of CPI(M) student wing Student Federation of India (SFI).