Kottayam (Kerala):
In politically aware Kerala, loyalties for many don't change in an entire lifetime. They may not be political players themselves, but wearing their political affiliations on their sleeve is a way of life.
Just about everyone in Kottayam knows tailor K K Thankan's love story. His passion for the CPM took root early. For over 45 years now, his labour of love has been to stitch party flags and banners, often spending his own money.
Thankan has his priorities very clearly worked out. Whenever party work is delivered to him, he drops stitching shirts and blouses that other customers give to him and his only condition to the CPM is that he will not charge a penny for the flags and banners that he stitches.
"Right from my younger days, I have been attracted to the party ideology and to the flag. This is my service to the party. For my living, I can survive by stitching other clothes," said Thankan.
On the other side of the political divide is Anish Peter, a voiceover artiste and the town's most well known voices. He is currently busy recording campaign audios for the Congress' chief ministerial aspirant Oommen Chandy. Peter has been lending his voice to Congress candidates for the last 25 years.
"If my voice is used by both the LDF candidates, they will end up with more of a problem," he said.
Clearly in Kerala, passion for politics is a universal factor but one that polarises as well.
Just about everyone in Kottayam knows tailor K K Thankan's love story. His passion for the CPM took root early. For over 45 years now, his labour of love has been to stitch party flags and banners, often spending his own money.
Thankan has his priorities very clearly worked out. Whenever party work is delivered to him, he drops stitching shirts and blouses that other customers give to him and his only condition to the CPM is that he will not charge a penny for the flags and banners that he stitches.
"Right from my younger days, I have been attracted to the party ideology and to the flag. This is my service to the party. For my living, I can survive by stitching other clothes," said Thankan.
On the other side of the political divide is Anish Peter, a voiceover artiste and the town's most well known voices. He is currently busy recording campaign audios for the Congress' chief ministerial aspirant Oommen Chandy. Peter has been lending his voice to Congress candidates for the last 25 years.
"If my voice is used by both the LDF candidates, they will end up with more of a problem," he said.
Clearly in Kerala, passion for politics is a universal factor but one that polarises as well.
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