Kerala local body election: At 89, candidate responds to the pull of polls

Time and again someone will prove that age is just a number. This time it is 89-year-old P.N. Narayanan Nair, a native of Perumbavoor. Every morning at 7 a.m., Mr. Nair, an Independent candidate in Ward 2 of the Ashamannoor grama panchayat at Perumbavoor, Ernakulam, sets off from his house, alone, visiting houses to seek votes. He winds up his electioneering before noon. Thirty-five years since his retirement from the government service as district health education officer, Mr. Nair is actively involved in his ward’s activities. The desire to contest the election took root in him 10 years ago. Twice, he could not contest since the ward was assigned reserved status. This time around, he is bent on realising his dream. Mr. Nair will turn 90 in April.