VM Vinu | Photo Credit: K Ragesh
The Congress, which had fielded filmmaker VM Vina as a “surprise candidate” and mayoral aspirant in the Kozhikode corporation elections, found his name missing from the final voter list released on Sunday.
According to the rules, candidates for local polls should have their names entered in the electoral roll of the constituencies/divisions they plan to contest from. Mr. Vinu, the director of the blockbuster film Balettan and Mammootty’s Vesham, among others, was probably the only film personality on the ticket of the main political fronts in the state. The Congress planned to field him from Kallai ward and Mr. Vinu has already started his campaign in style. He also told the media that he would take the opportunity to do something for the city he has an emotional connection to.
Mr. Vinu expressed his desire to rejuvenate the Kallai river, immortalized in many films and songs, around which a thriving timber industry once flourished. The Kozhikode District Congress Committee has now decided to complain to the District Collector and file a case in the Kerala High Court against the exclusion of Mr Vina’s name, calling it another case of “vote theft”.
Published – 17 Nov 2025 23:23 IST
