Thiruvananthapuram: A washerwoman picked by the Left to contest Kerala`s local bodies polls said on Thursday she was told to withdraw from the race because she was "not beautiful".
Vijaya Raju had completed one round of campaign when she was reportedly told to back off.
"I feel like committing suicide because this is a shame for me," said the anguished woman who was to contest from the Shankumughom ward.
"Why did they asked me to contest? Didn`t they see me when they selected me as a candidate? Had they told me this before I began my campaign, it would have been fine. But this is too much," she said.
The ward is reserved for Scheduled Castes. The Communist Party of India is contesting the seat.
Vijaya`s friends and family have rallied to her support.
"Is election a beauty contest? What matters is if you have the commitment for hard work. What has been done to her is not acceptable," said a friend of Vijaya.
But once the news spread, the Left said the decision to make her withdraw from the elections was taken due to political reasons.
The local bodies polls will be held Oct 23 and 25.
-IANS
