Wife thanks voters after husband's defeat in election, later issues clarification

ALAPPUZHA: After her husband lost the local body election, his wife thanked the voters, drawing public attention. CPM candidate Sajikumar Paradi was defeated in the fourth ward of Mannar Grama Panchayat, where BJP candidate Kaladharan emerged victorious.

Soon after the results were declared, Sajikumar’s wife posted a message on Facebook thanking the residents of Mannar Grama Panchayat’s fourth ward. The post sparked curiosity, with many questioning why the wife of a defeated candidate would publicly thank the people. In response, Sajikumar’s wife, Sindhu, issued a clarification.

Sindhu explained that her husband works in the banking sector and that the responsibilities of a ward member are not suitable for someone holding an official post. She also said that both of them are due to retire from service within the next five years. After retirement, she plans to move abroad, she added.

Facebook post:

Many people are calling and asking why the wife of a defeated candidate thanked the public. Even those who didn’t ask have the same doubt. So let me explain.

The work of a ward member is not suitable for someone who holds an official post. Only a person without fixed working hours and without a regular job can run around as a ward member all the time. Sajikumar wrote the PSC test, passed the interview (without the support of any political party), and has been serving as the Secretary of the Kuttamperoor Service Cooperative Bank for the last 20 years. Over the past seven years, the bank has won awards for being the best bank in Chengannur taluk and for having the best secretary. The bank was upgraded to a Class 1 bank purely through hard work and organisational skill. That achievement was at risk of being damaged by becoming a ward member.

Moreover, both of us will retire from service within five years. I will retire earlier, not because I am older than him, but because the retirement age for bank employees is higher. Once I start receiving my pension, I have firmly decided to go abroad immediately. But since he wants to continue holding on to the panchayat, he would never agree to that. (Even though I insisted many times that he should not contest the election, he contested reluctantly, saying it was the party’s decision.)

In any case, I thanked the people for giving me this convenience without any effort from my side.