Thripunithura native Ranjith to rule municipality in Finland

KOCHI: Ranjith from Thripunithura will once again be in the key position of the municipality of Hameenlinna in Finland. P Ranjith Kumar, a native of Ernakulam Maradu, has been elected to the Hameenlinna Municipal Corporation for the fourth time. He was once a cabinet member and last time vice-chairman. There are indications that the vice-chairman position is assured this time as well. Ranjith has been in the corporation for 12 years with a term of four years.

Ranjith, who was an employee of the health department, attracted the attention of the people with his dedicated work. Ranjith arrived in Finland, described by travel writer SK Pottekkat as the 'Land of the Midnight Sun', 20 years ago at the age of 27.

It all started after meeting with Minna Eklof, a Finnish national who was visiting Kochi. The friendship grew and they fell in love. He settled in Hameenlinna with Minna Eklof. After getting there, he got a job in the health department after studying BSc nursing and some other courses.

Municipal election was held on the 13th of last month. Social Democratic Party candidate Ranjith came third with 329 votes. It is not a ward based election like in Kerala. There are nine parties. They will put representatives in the city council. The interested candidate can vote.

Both parties received 14 councilors each, although the Social Democratic Party received 500 votes less than the first-placed party. The first place party will get the cabinet chairman and the second place party will get the vice chairman. The two parties will move forward with mutual consent. Ranjith will be sworn in next week.

Ranjith is the youngest of four children of ex-military officer Prabhakaran and Sulochana, a housewife in Maradu Thekkedam.