President's kin to contest in Uzhhavoor panchayat poll

President's kin to contest in Uzhhavoor panchayat poll
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

UZHAVOOR, SEPT 6: The brother of the first citizen of the country is trying his luck in the election to the local panchayat.

K R Bhaskaran, younger brother of President K R Narayanan, is contesting as an Independent in the Uzhavoor division of the Uzhavoor block panchayat. Initially, he was hopeful of support from all major parties, but that hope was belied when the LDF, UDF and the BJP fielded candidates in the Division. But Bhaskaran is undaunted. "I'm sure of winning the elections on my own", said a confident Bhaskaran to this paper.

He is in the race not just for the heck of it. "I've a grand and novel plan for the upliftment of the youth in the area. It will be with the support of many agencies, including overseas backing", he said.

He declined to elaborate on his idea. "Any way, it will be for the youths. After all, it is the youths in the area who forced me to file the nominations".

Did he discuss his plan to contest the election with his brother? "I didn't feel the need for it. After all, we are all independents", he said.

Bhaskaran had earlier raised eyebrows in some circles by attending some functions organised by the RSS. But Bhaskaran later clarified that he had no association with the RSS except for the fact that he admired the discipline and patriotism of the RSS cadres.

During the last Lok Sabha election, the BJP had broached the idea of fielding Bhaskaran as its candidate, but Bhaskaran did not relent.