Malayali to become new Mayor of Los Angeles? Nithya V Raman takes narrow lead in elections

THRISSUR: "I am very happy. I am eagerly waiting to hear the news of Nithya’s victory. We have performed various offerings—including Ganapathi Homam, Rudrabhishekam, and Bhagyasuktham—at the Dharmashasta temple." Prof. TK Devanarayanan of 'Sree Sruthi' in Pazhayanadakkavu, Thrissur, is overjoyed as his grand-niece, Nithya V Raman, takes the lead in the Los Angeles mayoral election.

45-year-old Nithya is the daughter of Sudha, who in turn is the daughter of CK Bhavani (sister of Devanarayanan).

"Sudha called and mentioned that there is only a narrow lead," Devanarayanan told *Kerala Kaumudi*. Nithya was born in Thrissur in 1981. Her father, Venkitaraman, was an employee at Keltron, and her mother, Sudha, was an official at Indian Overseas Bank.

Nithya studied at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Thrissur up to the first grade. At the age of six, she moved to the United States with her father, who had received an opportunity to serve as the CEO of a company called Vertex. She pursued her higher education at Harvard University and MIT, and holds a postgraduate degree in urban planning.

Nithya’s partner is Vali Chandrasekaran, a Hollywood TV screenwriter whom she met during her studies at Harvard. They reside in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, and have twins named Karna and Kaveri. Nithya’s brother, Akash V Raman, works in the financial sector in the US.

According to Prof. T.K. Devanarayanan, Nithya also had an interest in dance and had trained in Bharatanatyam. Nithya last visited Thrissur in 2019 for a family gathering. Her opponent is the current mayor, Karen Bass. Nithya entered politics in 2020, defeating incumbent council member David Ryu. Subsequently, in 2024, she secured victory by defeating Ethan Weaver.