By IANS,
Kochi : Union Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi’s dentist daughter Lekshmy is being tipped to contest the Kottayam assembly seat that her mother had won in 2001.
Ravi’s late wife Mercy Ravi was elected Congress legislator from Kottayam in 2001 when she won by a margin of more than 11,000 votes.
Asked by reporters if his daughter is likely to contest the April 13 elections, Ravi said his family has always been a political family.
“I have a sentimental attachment towards Kottayam. Please remember that Kottayam was captured by the Congress party after a gap of 40 years. I don’t think there is anything wrong if children of politicians contest elections,” said Ravi.
He said his daughter told him that some reporters had met her when the news surfaced, and he asked her what she told them.
“She told me that she will contest if the party asks her,” said Ravi.
When asked about the speculation, Lekshmy, a faculty at a dental college here, said she has a sentimental attachment to Kottayam.
“I have gone to the constituency on numerous occasions and I like it,” said Lekshmy.
In the 2006 polls, due to her ill health Mercy Ravi did not contest. A close aide of Ravi, Ajay Tharayil contested the seat but lost to the Communist Party of India-Marxist leader V.N. Vasavan by less than 500 votes.
Mercy Ravi passed away in 2009.