Kerala Native Mahesh Muralidharan Wins New Zealand Parliamentary Election

KERALA : Mahesh Muralidharan (46), a native of Kozhikode, Kerala, has won a seat in the New Zealand Parliament, marking a significant achievement for the Indian-origin community.

Mahesh, a prominent venture capitalist and technology entrepreneur, is the son of Muraleedharan and Meera, who hail from Thalakkulathur in Kozhikode district. He is reportedly the first person of Indian origin to win a parliamentary seat representing the National Party.

Despite living abroad, Mahesh has maintained a close connection with his ancestral hometown. He visits Kerala every year and was in his native place around two months ago to attend the post-funeral ceremonies of his grandmother.

Mahesh spent his childhood at the Makkancheri ancestral home in Thalakkulathur. The family later moved to Singapore after his father secured a job there.

Mahesh pursued an MBA from the University of New South Wales and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy from the University of Auckland. He was also among the early key members associated with Canva, the globally renowned graphic design platform.

His wife, Praveena, is also associated with New Zealand, where she moved for her high school education. The couple currently resides in Mission Bay, Auckland.

Mahesh’s electoral victory has brought pride and joy to his family members and the people of Thalakkulathur, who are celebrating the achievement of their hometown’s son on the international political stage.