In a significant trend this election season, political parties across Kerala have turned to an unexpected group of grassroots workers to secure votes: ration dealers. Recognising their deep, personal connection with households, over 200 ration dealers have been fielded as candidates in the ongoing local body polls across the state's 14 districts.
The Trusted Link Turns Candidate
Ration dealers have long served as a crucial bridge between the state's public distribution system and ordinary families. Political fronts have now identified this regular, monthly interaction as a potent electoral asset. T Muhammed Ali, general secretary of the All Kerala Ration Dealers Association, explained that personal familiarity is a decisive factor in local elections, and ration dealers are uniquely positioned due to their direct contact with voters.
"In local body elections, personal familiarity matters. Ration dealers are uniquely placed because they are a regular point of contact for many voters. Parties have clearly recognised this advantage," Ali stated. He confirmed that candidates are contesting in every district, with notable concentrations like five candidates in Alappuzha district alone, including the association's state vice-president.
From Ration Shop to Polling Booth: Candidate Stories
The strategy is reflected in individual campaigns. CPM nominee T K Majeed, a ration dealer since 1997, is contesting for the Kunnamangalam block panchayat from the Cheroopa division. He highlighted how technological changes have expanded a dealer's reach. With Aadhaar-based national ration card portability, cardholders can collect rations from any shop, meaning a dealer's network now extends beyond traditional ward boundaries.
"People from several wards come to our shop. Many of them are now voters in my block panchayat division," Majeed noted, underscoring the widened influence.
Another candidate, P Viswanathan, a sitting member of the Chalavara panchayat in Palakkad seeking re-election from a different ward, pointed to the trust built over years. "When you meet households every month and handle their essentials, a certain trust naturally develops. That's what I carry with me into this election," Viswanathan said.
A Proven Track Record and Widespread Support
This is not an entirely new phenomenon. According to the association, several ration dealers had won in the previous local body elections as well, with some even rising to positions in district panchayats and one serving as block panchayat president in Malappuram. The current wave, however, is more organised and widespread.
All three major political fronts in Kerala have incorporated ration dealers into their candidate lists, betting that their hyper-local credibility and familiarity will translate into votes. This move underscores a shift in campaign strategies for grassroots elections, where community recognition often outweighs high-profile political rhetoric.
The trend highlights the evolving nature of local politics in Kerala, where individuals embedded in the daily welfare infrastructure are leveraging their service-based relationships to step into formal roles of governance, potentially reshaping the profile of local representatives.
