As the sun set over Kerala’s Manjeswaram, Fathimath Zowra’s busy campaign day was far from over. This 27-year-old, once a community mentor for Kudumbashree, is now fighting local elections as an Independent candidate in the Udyawar North ward. She did not plan to join politics initially, but persistent calls from the people she helped pushed her to take the plunge. “Fed up with problems that never got resolved, they wanted me to fight the elections. But I did not want to contest under any party symbol. After my years with the Kudumbashree, I have the confidence that I can get things done,” she said proudly. Zowra’s story is not unique. Many women have used Kudumbashree as a golden stairway to politics. Take Jisna Francis from Thrissur’s Vellangallur block, for example. Starting in 2022 with a Kudumbashree auxiliary group, Jisna took on leadership roles and made strong community ties. She shared, “People said they could see a huge change in me in even a short period.” She believes her political stage is just bigger than Kudumbashree, promising, "If elected, I will be on a bigger stage and am confident I will be able to help the people." Women like Sindhu Sasi and Usha Sachidanandan show how deep Kudumbashree roots run in politics. Sindhu, a former councillor and Kudumbashree chairperson in Thiruvananthapuram, knows the challenges of managing government programs in coastal areas. "I do not need any introduction. I may not have been a councillor for five years but have been very much involved with the ward and its people,” she says. Meanwhile, Usha from Malappuram’s Moothedam panchayat speaks passionately about Kudumbashree’s power. Becoming active in 2010 after serving as vice-president, she said, "Kudumbashree makes it possible to have maximum possible interaction with people, especially with women and the marginalised. Once elected, we can do whatever is necessary to address the difficulties faced by these sections." The acceptance and trust in Kudumbashree women candidates is huge. They stand as pillars in their communities with strong public belief: if help is to reach the grassroots, it must come through Kudumbashree. Looking ahead, these leaders want to energize the network's auxiliary groups and focus on uplifting the marginalized. The numbers tell the story best: Over 16,800 Kudumbashree women contested local elections in 2020. This time, officials expect more than 20,000 brave women ready to battle for change. From mentorship to leadership, these vibrant women are shaping Kerala’s political future, one ward at a time.