How this Chhattisgarh woman became a candidate in Kerala civic polls

Palakkad: Before seeking votes, candidate Jyothi would offer greetings with her left hand.

This woman from Chhattisgarh had lost her right hand while trying to save an unknown CISF jawan. Later, the Keralite jawan, Vikas, married Jyothi and she arrived in the southern state in 2011.

Jyothi is the BJP candidate at the Palathulli division of the Kollengode block panchayat in Palakkad. Her husband Palathulli native P V Vikas is a CISF jawan at the Coimbatore airport.

Jyothi is a native of Bacheli in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh. Her tryst with Kerala began during a bus ride on January 3, 2010.

Jyothi noticed that a tanker lorry was going to hit the side of the bus at Durg in Chhattisgarh. A youth was sleeping in the front seat, unaware of this. Jyothi pushed him away from the path of danger but her right hand was severed off.

Vikas was then working at the CISF Bailadila camp. Vikas later tied the knot with Jyothi, whose selfless act saved his life.