Geetha Varma, Radhika Varma and Urmila Varma — all relatives — are battling it out against each other.

They might belong to the same family that once ruled this part of the State. But in this local bodies’ election, relatives are divided on political lines and they are battling it out against each other.

In ward number 38 of the Tripunithura municipality, Geetha Varma, Radhika Varma, and Urmila Varma, three members of the royal family of Kochi, have started running their campaign ‘‘from different floors of the same house.’’ And with the family members pitted against one another, the fight has turned exciting.

For the masses

Married to Ramesh Varma of Edoop Palace, Geetha Varma, a CPI(M) candidate, hopes to serve society at the grassroots. ‘‘The decision to contest was rather easier as I enjoy the support of both the family and the party to the maximum,’’ said Ms. Geetha, a known Kathakali artiste.

Radhika Varma, who recently retired as the head of the junior wing of Chinmaya Vidyalaya School here, said being in the BJP would help her continue with her social work. The daughter of the late Captain Kerala Varma, she looks forward to learn from the straight-jacket demeanour her father had exhibited all his life. “He led a service-oriented life and never gave room to the dirty politics all through,’’ she said.

The youngest candidate among the three, Urmila Varma, is the grand-daughter of Mangu Thampuran, the present Valiyamma Thampuran of the family. Having started her professional career as an HR trainer in Chennai, she has been involved in social work for a long time through an NGO. With her father Ravi Varma being an active Congress worker, Urmila’s name came up as a natural choice for the party.

‘‘Camaraderie in the family remains unaffected with political affiliations,’’ says Ms. Urmila.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by Shyama Rajagopal / Kochi – October 19th, 2015