Tribal chiefs to be 'poll ambassadors' in Kerala

The local administration has decided to involve chiefs of tribal hamlets here as ‘poll ambassadors’ to spread awareness among the community about voting.

In run up to the May 16 Assembly polls, the district authorities have roped in seven tribal chiefs, known in local parlance as ‘Kani Mooppans’, to spread awareness among the tribal population on the need to vote and increase polling percentage.

The tribal chiefs, living in hamlets in and around the district, have been selected to woo voters in Kottoor, a prominent tribal settlement under the Aruvikkara constituency.

District Collector Biju Prabhakar, who is also the district electoral officer, launched a programme for the purpose here yesterday.

Under the programme, the tribal chiefs - Kunjuraman Kani, Mallan Kani, Chellappan Kani, Chandran Kani, Krishnan Kani, Velliyayan Kani, and Sunil Kumar Kani - would persuade people to exercise their franchise, sources said.

The administration, the with public sector bank, State Bank of Travancore, also launched a sticker-poster campaign to increase awareness among the voters, they added.