<p>In yet another instance of democracy changing the lives of people overnight, a woman who has been serving as a part-time sweeper at a panchayat has become the president of the same panchayat.</p>.<p>Anandavalli A has taken over as president of the Pathanapuram block panchayat on the suburbs of Kollam district in South Kerala on Wednesday. She had been working as a part-time sweeper at the panchayat office as well as other offices attached to the block since 2011.</p>.<p>Anandavalli, fondly known as 'Valli Chechi', was opted by the Left Democratic Front as panchayat president considering her popularity and acceptance among the people.</p>.<p>She contested from Thalavoor ward, which was reserved for Scheduled Caste general members, and won with a clear majority of around 650 votes. In the 13 member panchayat, left front won seven seats and Congress-led United Democratic Front won the remaining six.</p>.<p>The panchayat president post was reserved for SC woman and apart from Anandavalli, another left-front woman member was also from the SC community. But CPM opted Anandavalli, which is learnt to be in consideration of her general acceptance.</p>.<p>Anandavalli's husband, who is a painting worker, has been an active CPM worker and the couple have two children.</p>.<p>The elevation of a part-time sweeper to panchayat president post came close on the heels of a 21-year old college girl, Arya Rajendran, becoming Thiruvananthapuram mayor and hitting headlines by becoming the youngest mayor in the country.</p>
<p>In yet another instance of democracy changing the lives of people overnight, a woman who has been serving as a part-time sweeper at a panchayat has become the president of the same panchayat.</p>.<p>Anandavalli A has taken over as president of the Pathanapuram block panchayat on the suburbs of Kollam district in South Kerala on Wednesday. She had been working as a part-time sweeper at the panchayat office as well as other offices attached to the block since 2011.</p>.<p>Anandavalli, fondly known as 'Valli Chechi', was opted by the Left Democratic Front as panchayat president considering her popularity and acceptance among the people.</p>.<p>She contested from Thalavoor ward, which was reserved for Scheduled Caste general members, and won with a clear majority of around 650 votes. In the 13 member panchayat, left front won seven seats and Congress-led United Democratic Front won the remaining six.</p>.<p>The panchayat president post was reserved for SC woman and apart from Anandavalli, another left-front woman member was also from the SC community. But CPM opted Anandavalli, which is learnt to be in consideration of her general acceptance.</p>.<p>Anandavalli's husband, who is a painting worker, has been an active CPM worker and the couple have two children.</p>.<p>The elevation of a part-time sweeper to panchayat president post came close on the heels of a 21-year old college girl, Arya Rajendran, becoming Thiruvananthapuram mayor and hitting headlines by becoming the youngest mayor in the country.</p>