ALAPPUZHA
In a stunning political upset, 30-year-old Congress leader AD Thomas has been elected as the youngest MLA in Keralam.
Thomas, a grassroots youth leader and professional fisherman, defeated senior CPI(M) leader PP Chitharanjan by over 21,000 votes. This victory marks a dramatic shift in the coastal constituency of Alappuzha, which has been a stronghold for the Left for decades.
Thomas’s journey to the Legislative Assembly is a true “rags-to-riches” story of perseverance. Growing up in a struggling family, he started working as a fisherman at age 17 to support his parents. To fund his education, he worked at petrol pumps and took up construction labor, eventually earning a degree in History. His rise through the ranks of the Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) was marked by his aggressive street politics and a commitment to representing the common man.
The young leader gained widespread fame after a photograph of his blood-soaked face went viral following a protest against the Chief Minister’s convoy. Supporters dubbed him “Porali” (The Fighter), turning him into a symbol of resistance for the youth. Despite his political rise, Thomas never left his roots, continuing to fish and work as a laborer until his election victory.
Speaking to reporters, Thomas dedicated his win to the young activists who have faced struggles across the state. “I am just a representative of those who have been silenced,” he said. His victory has shocked political observers and breathed new life into the Congress party’s youth wing in Keralam.