Kottayam (Kerala): Following the scrutiny of nomination papers for the Legislative Assembly elections, Athira D Nair, the NDA representative in Ettumanoor, has emerged as the youngest alliance candidate in the state at 25 years old.

To those who dismiss age as a mere number, Athira boldly responds, "Age does matter, brother."

"Cyberbullying against me has already begun in some quarters, but I am not afraid," she stated. Athira envisions implementing several projects in her constituency, inspired by the 'Twenty20' model in Kizhakkambalam, such as supermarkets providing goods at subsidised rates. Trained in dance and music since childhood, she is currently an online entrepreneur. She holds a degree in Cyber Forensics and a Master's degree in Computer Science.

With the heart of the people

Ashna Thampi, 26, has witnessed the struggles of the common man from the frontlines of various protests. Representing SUCI (Communist) in Ettumanoor, Ashna believes that the will to help others is more important than wealth or fame. According to the asset declaration submitted with her nomination, she has a total of ₹84, making her the candidate with the lowest assets in the state.

On the day she filed her papers, she had only ₹40 in cash and ₹44 in her bank account. By the day of scrutiny, she had ₹50 in cash, but after recharging her phone for ₹19, her bank balance stood at ₹25. She owns no vehicles, property or source of steady income.

"Some ask why I don't secure a stable income after my studies. My decision is to be part of people's movements, and I have my family's support in this," she says, maintaining that one only needs enough money to cover basic needs.

Ashna famously cut her hair in solidarity when ASHA workers cut theirs during a protest in Thiruvananthapuram. While a student at Maharaja's College, she contested elections representing AIDSO. In 2019, she enrolled for a Master's degree at the MG University School of Letters and also holds a PG Diploma in Journalism.