kozhikode News

UDF-Welfare split sets stage for high-voltage fight in Mukkam

KOZHIKODE: Five years ago, Mukkam municipality stood balanced, 15 seats on one side, 15 on the other, and a single rebel tipping the scales of power. This time, the picture is far more chaotic. The UDF-Welfare Party alliance has snapped, the LDF is on a stronger footing, and rebels old and new are back in the spotlight. With 34 divisions and no clear favourite, Mukkam is heading into an election where every ward has its own drama and each vote can rewrite the councils future. For years, the UDF-Welfare pact played a decisive role in Mukkam politics. In 2020, both LDF and UDF secured 15 seats each, the BJP won two, and a League rebel clinched one seat. UDF secured 15 seats only because of Welfare Partys support, which contested four seats and won three. This time, it demanded five divisions, while the Congress-led UDF was willing to concede only two. With negotiations failing, Welfare Party moved ahead with its own candidates, weakening UDFs prospects, especially in areas like Chennamangallur, where the former enjoys overwhelming influence. The LDF, which managed to form the council in 2020 with the support of League rebel Muhammed Abdul Majeed, is performing strongly on the ground this time. Front leaders expect to win more than 10 seats, which could shift the political balance and potentially deny UDF power. With UDF and Welfare Party contesting separately, the biggest question now is: whom will the latter support after the results? This single factor could determine who forms the next council. Preparations have begun in full swing by the Welfare Party in different parts of Mukkam region. Party workers have launched various activities including candidate photoshoots and flag installations. UDF has also initiated its campaign, announcing K V Jabbar as an independent supported by it in Division 19. UDF leaders in Chennamangallur have criticised the Welfare Party, claiming that the area saw only small municipal-funded developments in the last term. They argue that Welfare Party councillors lacked the political reach to secure substantial state or central development funds, unlike traditional mainstream parties. League leader K P Ahammedkutty from Chennamangallur says future negotiations with UDF will be impossible for the Welfare Party if it is not ready to understand the political situation in Mukkam. Senior political leaders from the region agree that failing to reach an understanding with Welfare Party could prove a major setback for UDF in a municipality known for tight races. The wild card in this election is once again Muhammed Abdul Majeed, the League rebel who supported the LDF in 2020. He won the Irattakulangara ward in 2020 by defeating UDFs Shereef Vennakkode by 16 votes (328 vs. 312). Last year, Majeed withdrew his support from LDF and joined UDF in tabling a no-confidence motion, which failed due to lack of quorum. This time again, he is contesting as an independent. He maintains that development work worth `2.5 crore completed in his ward will earn him support. Interestingly, Shereef Vennakkode has again been named the UDF candidate in the ward, setting the stage for a rematch. Adding further complications for UDFs regional prospects, in ward 7 (Punnakkal) of the neighbouring Thiruvambady panchayat, Youth Congress mandalam secretary Jithin Pallat has decided to contest as a rebel against Tomy Konnakkal, the official UDF nominee. This internal conflict may ripple into the Mukkam political atmosphere as well. With the extra division added and shifting alliances, no front is expected to secure a clear majority on its own.

Drunk driving: probe under way against interstate bus driver

Alleged incident took place during a trip between Kozhikode and Bengaluru on November 24

Malaparamba sex racket case: chargesheet filed against 12, including two police drivers

The suspected inter-district racket was exposed during a check at an apartment near Malaparamba in Kozhikode city in June

Welfare Party alliance heating up poll campaign

KOZHIKODE: The Welfare Party of India, the political front of the Jamaat-e-Islami, is not a force to reckon with in Kerala politics. Yet, the party has become the focal point of discussion in the local body election campaign. The CPM is marshalling all its resources to put the UDF on the defensive for aligning with the propagators of Islamic State ideology. On its part, the UDF has been reluctant to openly admit the alliance and claims that the front has only local-level understanding with the Welfare Party. The Jamaat had supported the LDF for a long time, a fact that the CPM is conveniently trying to hush up. Jamaat began moving towards the UDF mainly after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Since then, the Welfare Party has been functioning almost as a constituent of the UDF though not officially declared so. The Jamaat, which has strongly criticised the IUML in the past, also developed a cozy relationship with the party. The formation of the Muslim Coordination Committee during agitations against the CAA brought them closer. Members of the Panakkad family, who kept a distance from the Jamaat in the past, started attending the programmes of the organisation. IUML leaders K M Shaji and M K Muneer, who had vehemently opposed the Jamaat ideology, became silent. The rise of the BJP at the national level also served to cement the relationship between the two organisations. By no means was it a smooth transition. There was strong opposition from Muslim organisations which considered the Jamaat a dangerous presence for the community. The Sunnis and the Mujahids raised their concerns over the IUML coming closer to the Jamaat. Their opposition was more religious than political. This time too, voices have emerged from the community against the Jamaat. Some leaders of the EK faction of the Samastha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulama cautioned the UDF against joining hands with the Jamaat. The Kanthapuram faction also came up with objections. Some Mujahid groups met the Congress leaders as well, to express their concern over giving a clean chit to the Jamaat. But the situation this time is a bit different. While the opposition against the Jamaat was united in the past, now some sections among Muslim organisations suspect that the CPM is drawing political mileage from the anti-Jamaat position. This feeling is reflected in the words of EK faction Sunni leader Nasar Faizi Koodathayi who wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that many of those who are currently criticising the Jamaat are actually serving the CPM interest. This is seen as an indirect reply to Abdul Hameed Faizi, Umar Faizi Mukkam and Musthafa Mundupara belonging to the same Sunni group who opposed the Jamaat alliance. The split in the anti-Jamaat camp also gave the IUML the confidence to go ahead with the alliance. The UDF camp is busy digging up materials from the past to prove that the CPM and Jamaat were bosom friends. They circulate the photograph of the LDF MLA K T Jaleel visiting the Jamaat headquarters after he defeated P K Kunhalikutty in Kuttippuram in 2006. The pro-Jamaat groups on social media are unearthing photographs where CPM leaders are seen with Jamaat leaders. Meanwhile, the CPM is hoping that the Jamaat-UDF alliance will antagonise Hindu and Christian sections, which will be beneficial for the party in southern Kerala. And not everyone in the Congress is happy with the tie-up and those sections may wait for the local body poll results to react.

Sobering reality! Viral video exposes drunk bus crew on inter-state routes

KOZHIKODE: A late-night journey on a private bus from Kozhikode to Bengaluru has ignited a major public safety concern after a video showing a drunk bus driver and cleaner went viral. What began with an alert raised by a vigilant passenger has now opened the floodgates, with travellers across states sharing alarming accounts of similar experiences, revealing a deeply troubling pattern in long-distance private bus travel. The incident occurred on November 24, when passengers on a bus operated by Bharati Travels noticed erratic driving soon after departure. It was Ahamed Sanobar, a Kozhikode native, who first realised something was terribly wrong. The cleaner was completely drunk and had no consciousness. The driver too was heavily drunk, Sanobar said, recalling the moment he confronted the crew. Despite passengers pleading with him to stop, the driver allegedly continued speeding, putting the lives of more than 35 passengers at grave risk. He was driving fast and risking the lives of everyone. We had to fight with the driver to make him stop, he added. The bus was halted only after passengers intervened forcefully. Sanobar later filed a complaint with the police. The vehicle resumed its journey to Bengaluru only after a replacement driver arrived from the city. Once footage of the confrontation was posted online, it quickly drew thousands of views and comments. Social media platforms were soon flooded with similar stories from travellers who had experienced unsafe behaviour by private bus crews, especially on interstate routes. Many reported instances of drivers operating under the influence of alcohol, sleep-deprived drivers on overnight journeys, unsafe speeds on highways, aggressive or unresponsive crew members and poorly maintained buses despite high fares. One user wrote, We were terrified to complain. The driver kept dozing off, and the cleaner was drunk. We just prayed through the night. The timing of this incident has intensified public anger. With trains to Bengaluru fully booked during the rush season, passengers are forced to turn to private buses, many charging inflated fares with no guarantee of safety. The lack of regulation and accountability has turned essential interstate travel into a life-threatening risk, passengers say. Majority of accidents happen this way. Strict action and frequent inspections from motor vehicle departments across states are urgently needed to prevent such reckless behaviour, Sanobar urged in his complaint. Experts and commuter groups are now calling for mandatory breathalyser tests for long-route drivers, night-time inspection squads along major interstate routes, stricter enforcement of crew duty hours, fines and cancellation of licences for operators who violate safety norms. Police have confirmed receiving the complaint and have begun an initial investigation.

Two held for alleged sale of banned tobacco products in Kozhikode

Kerala local body polls 2025: Rival fronts fear public anger as pollution hogs the limelight

Public anger over industrial emissions and untreated wastewater is mounting pressure on political parties. While reverberations of agitations against a poultry waste treatment plant in Kozhikode is likely to shape voter sentiment, Ashtamudi Lakes pollution is becoming a key poll issue in Kollam.

UDF-Jamaat tie-up: Now, Kanthapuram Sunnis raise concern

KOZHIKODE: Yet another Muslim organisation has come forward to oppose the UDFs adjustments with the Welfare Party of India, the political front of the Jamaat-e-Islami, in the ensuing elections to the local bodies in Kerala. In an article published in Siraj daily, Sunni Yuvajana Sangam (SYS), the youth wing of the Kanthapuram faction of Sunnis, Rahmatullah Saqafi questioned the UDFs claim that the Jamaat has discarded its ideology of the Islamic state. Saqafi said that till now the Jamaat leadership has not openly said that they no longer subscribe to the ideology. He said Jamaat publishing house has republished the book authored by its founder Abul Ala Maududi that asserted the theocratic and anti-democratic stand. Can the leadership of the front that accommodated the Jamaat produce any proof to show that the organisation has withdrawn the book, Saqafi asked. He said the Sunnis will be happy if the Jamaat decides to backtrack from their position because they (Sunnis) have been campaigning against the stance from the beginning itself. But the Jamaat is selling the books of Maududi and has even conducted a campaign on his ideology last month. This proves that the Jamaat can never discard Maududi, Saqafi said. The Sunni leader questioned the Jamaat argument that the aim of Muslims should be to establish divine rule. Muslims have ruled India for about 650 years and none of them declared the country as an Islamic land, he said, adding that Muslims in Kerala have cooperated with the non-Muslim rulers and even fought for the land. No Muslim scholar in Kerala including Sheikh Zainuddin Makhdum called for the establishment of Islamic rule, he said. The unholy understanding for temporary electoral gains will cause irreparable damage to the nation. It will also make certain political parties irrelevant, Saqafi said. Selling Maudadi books In an article published in Siraj daily, Sunni Yuvajana Sangam, youth wing of Kanthapuram faction of Sunnis, Rahmatullah Saqafi questioned the UDFs claim that the Jamaat has discarded its ideology of the Islamic state He also pointed out that the Jamaat was selling the books of Maududi and had even conducted a campaign on his ideology last month.

Its raining young leaders in Kerala's local body elections

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The youth and student organisations of the CPM outnumber other political groups in the number of leaders contesing in this local body elections. With the withdrawal of nominations concluding, the DYFI and SFI together have 1,473 members contesting on CPM ticket. Around 1,141 candidates are from Congress youth and student organisations, the Youth Congress and KSU. CPIs AISF and IUMLs Muslim Students Federation (MSF) have 14 and 47 leaders, respectively, in the fray. DYFI has the most candidates at 1,413. They include two central committee members and 22 state committee members. There are eight women on the list. Across all levels, 996 DYFI candidates are in the fray in grama panchayats, followed by 165 in block panchayats, 38 in district panchayats, 184 in municipalities and 30 in corporations. Youth representation is crucial in local governance, and it is the Left, particularly the CPM, that consistently ensures meaningful opportunities for young people, said DYFI state secretary V K Sanoj. Though the final tally of candidates from YC is not ready, an estimated 1,060 candidates are contesting on the Congress symbol. They include 40 state office-bearers and several national secretaries. Nine women have been fielded. We have fielded candidates from the current and previous state committees, including those from the earlier body led by Shafi Parambil, said YC state president O J Janeesh. Although we believe more leaders should have been accommodated, the political context required the party to weigh several considerations. The KSU has been allotted 81 seats, including one for a transgender candidate, the lone contestant from the community. There are 22 state committee members and 59 assembly-level office-bearers in the list. As many as 60 candidates are from the SFI. Maintaining that voters never raised concern about their political inexperience during campaigning, SFI state committee member P Thajuddeen, the LDF candidate from Kozhikode district panchayats Nadapuram division, said his political journey with the organisation had given him ample experience to work for peoples welfare. KSU Thiruvananthapuram district vice-president Vyshna Suresh, the UDFs candidate for Thiruvananthapuram corporations Muttada ward, opined that student leaders contesting in the elections can perform better, thanks to their background in campus politics. Hoping that the new gen politicians will bring in refreshing and advanced views in politics for the public, Vyshna said this generation shift will help mould better leaders for tomorrow. CPIs candidate in the Konni division of Pathanamthitta district panchayat and AISF state president Bibin Abraham felt the increased participation of youngsters could be because of the partys evaluation that the young leaders are critically needed in certain areas. Ayisha Banu P H, the first woman state vice-president of MSF who is contesting from the Pookkottur division of Malappuram district panchayat, said the new trend can help reduce the apolitical stand seen among youngsters. None from ABV P The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has not fielded any candidates, in line with RSS policy of not sending its organisational workers in electoral contests. The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has seven state office-bearers, five state committee members and eight district presidents in the race. Two women BJYM leaders are contesting as BJP candidates MYL fields 3 women leaders The Muslim Youth League (MYL) has nominated three women leaders national secretaries Mufeeda Thasni (Kannur district panchayat) and Najma Thabsheera (Kozhikode corporation), and state secretary Fathima Thahilliya (Kozhikode corporation). National V-P Sajid Naduvannoor is contesting in Kozhikode district panchayat.

Frustration, exhaustion, poor pay drive young Kerala doctors away, sparking debate on burnout

KOZHIKODE: For years, Kerala has proudly celebrated its brilliant young doctors, the NEET rank-holders, the ones who spent sleepless nights chasing a profession built on service, sacrifice and prestige. But in recent months, a different narrative has begun to emerge on social media stories about the frustration and exhaustion triggering an emotional, sometimes uncomfortable, debate across the state. At the centre of this growing storm are a series of personal videos by young doctors who chose to step away from the profession after years of hard study. Their confessions raw, vulnerable and at times painfully honest have forced Kerala to confront questions it has long avoided: Are young doctors being undervalued? Is the system exploiting their dedication? Or is the new generation simply unwilling to accept the hardships older doctors once embraced as part of the job? The debate took shape when Afriyna Ashraf and Irfana Ibrahim, both popular social media influencers, posted videos about why they walked away from their careers. Their accounts hit a nerve and drew overwhelming public response, revealing not only the hidden struggles of junior doctors but also the sharp generational divide within the medical community. After completing her MBBS, Afriyna began working in a private hospital in Bengaluru, where her salary was less than Rs 40,000 a month. In a city where rent itself could swallow half that amount, she found survival difficult. But the greater strain, she says, was the workload often equivalent to two doctors responsibilities. If it was truly a one-person job, I would have stayed, she said, adding that the constant pressure eroded her mental health. She has since moved into creative work and says she is happier than she has been in years. Dentist Irfana Ibrahims experience was even harsher. Her last job paid her only Rs 8,000 a month. She recalls days spent standing for hours, treating back-to-back patients, and returning home so drained that she struggled to smile. Realising that her work was neither financially nor emotionally sustainable, she made the painful decision to leave dentistry altogether. Her choice, like Afriynas, drew both criticism and support online. Addressing this opinion that young doctors who complain should simply go abroad to earn better, she said, People keep saying that abroad will give good salary and good jobs. But they dont understand that even that market is saturated. Thousands of doctors are graduating from other countries every year, and many of them come to India struggling just to find a job because of so many barriers. Their stories prompted another young doctor to post a video criticising what he described as the peanuts-like salary offered to MBBS graduates in Kerala. He claimed that young doctors often work up to 36 hours at a stretch, with minimal rest or leave, only to earn around Rs 40,000 a month. But not everyone agreed with this narrative. Among the most widely shared counterpoints was a detailed Facebook post by dentist Dr Smita Rahman, who questioned the changing attitudes of young medical professionals. Reflecting on her own journey, she described joining dentistry in 1999 without any awareness of future salary prospects. Her first job in 2005 offered her Rs 7,500 a month. She recalls working from morning to mid-afternoon without breaks, treating more than a hundred patients a day, yet feeling grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow. Dr Smita argued that doctors willing to continuously update their skills still find good opportunities in Kerala. She criticised what she saw as a trend of young doctors expecting high salaries immediately after graduation. How can people trust doctors who kick aside the very profession they pledged to serve? she asked, a line that quickly spread across social media. Senior doctors, shaped by decades of sacrifice, see medicine as a calling that demands patience and dedication. Younger doctors, aware of their rights and unwilling to romanticise suffering, argue that passion does not justify exploitation.

Uttarakhand turns to hydroseeding to tackle persistent landslides on Badrinath highway

DEHRADUN: Facing relentless landslides in one of India's top 10 most vulnerable districts, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is now turning to an advanced biological solution, hydroseeding, to stabilise a critical stretch of the Badrinath Highway near Kameda in Gauchar. This shift comes after earlier engineering interventions allegedly failed to contain the erosion that has long threatened this vital route. The 120-metre stretch near Kameda, located in the highly landslide-prone Rudraprayag district, experiences significant debris flow during the monsoon season. For over five years, the slope above the highway has continually shed soil, rocks and boulders, frequently disrupting traffic for hours. For more than five years, the slope here has been unstable. When the rains hit, large boulders roll onto the highway, stated a local resident, requesting anonymity due to the frequent closures. Previously, NHAI had attempted stabilisation using conventional engineering methods. Steel netting anchored by 6 to 8-inch iron rods (anchors) was installed into the slope before the monsoon. However, heavy rains led to substantial slippage, allegedly rendering the nets ineffective. Now, the focus has shifted to Hydroseeding Mulch, a technique involving the spraying of a mixture of seeds, water and fertiliser onto the slope. We are employing Hydroseeding Mulch to prevent further landslides in this steep terrain. We anticipate this method will be effective, said JP Sharma, Project Manager at RCC Developers, associated with the project. We are currently verifying the existing anchors before fully implementing this technique, as this method has proven successful in mountainous regions. Hydroseeding is an advanced bio-engineering technique designed to rapidly establish a protective layer of grass or vegetation on steep slopes, roadsides and mining areas. The mixture includes mulch fibres that bind the soil together, preventing erosion from heavy rain or wind, while the seeds germinate to create a living root structure for long-term stability. The urgency of this stabilisation effort is underscored by recent data classifying India's most vulnerable zones. Official sources confirm that Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal in Uttarakhand are among the top 10 most landslide-prone districts in the country. Apart from Rudraprayag and Tehri in Uttarakhand, the list of high-risk districts also includes: Kerala: Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode. Jammu and Kashmir: Rajouri and Poonch. Sikkim: South and East Sikkim. The NHAI hopes that this biological intervention will finally stabilise the Badrinath route before the next monsoon season arrives.

KLF 2026 to Bring 400 Global Voices to Kozhikode Beach

Since its launch in 2016, KLF has grown into a major cultural platform, drawing over 6.5 lakh visitors and more than 600 speakers last year

Rebel threat to UDF, LDF in Kozhikode

UDF says no ties, but Welfare Party members contest as independents

KOZHIKODE: Even as the Congress-led UDF maintains that it will not enter into any formal electoral understanding with the Welfare Party of India (WPI), the ground reality across several wards in the region tells a starkly different political story. Welfare Party members, backed discreetly but decisively by UDF constituents and RMPI, are contesting as independents, reshaping traditional alliance boundaries ahead of the local body polls. The contradiction became sharply visible after noted social activist and long-time Welfare Party leader and its current secretary Fousiya Teacher announced her candidature in Ward 18 of Vadakara municipality, not under the party banner but as an independent. Her campaign has the open support of both the UDF and the RMPI. Similarly, a senior Welfare Party worker in Malappuram district, Asma Jalali is contesting in Koottilangadi panchayat as an independent candidate with UDF support. Earlier, the UDF had formally announced that it would not engage in seat-sharing or alliance arrangements with WPI, the political arm of Jamaat-e-Islami. Kozhikode DCC president K Praveen Kumar pointed out that the district committees stand was appropriate in the current context. Seat-sharing should be limited to UDF constituents and associate members, he said. Speaking to TNIE, Fousiya defended her decision to break from the party line. I decided to contest as an independent because I want all secular and democratic forces in Vadakara to unite against divisive politics. My decision is backed by the people, and supported by the UDF and the RMP purely on the strength of my work, not because of political negotiations, she said. She added that contesting independently ensures wider acceptance in a ward where coalition equations shift at the grassroots. While the UDF leadership remains cautious and defensive about its position, RMPI leaders have taken a more assertive stand. RMPI leader K S Hariharan openly questioned the hesitation to back Welfare Party candidates. Why should we not support the Welfare Party when the Election Commission itself has recognised them and granted registration? They are a lawful organisation. If they were associated with terrorism as some allege, the Election Commission would never have approved them. Supporting such candidates is not a mistake, he said. Welfare Party district general secretary Salih Kodapana, meanwhile, admitted that political pragmatism often overrides ideological rigidity at the grassroots. LSG polls create situations where we may not always be able to contest directly under our banner. Sometimes alliances become necessary. Things will be very different in assembly polls, he said. External support sometimes necessary Local body polls create situations where we may not always be able to contest directly under our banner. Sometimes alliances or external support become necessary, said WPI district general secretary

On the run, yet in the race: UDF fields fugitive fresh cut protest chief

KOZHIKODE: In a dramatic twist to the local body elections in Thamarassery, a fugitive Muslim League leader facing an international Look Out Circular (LOC) has emerged as the UDFs official candidate. Sainul Abideen, alias Babu Kudukkil, wanted in connection with last months violent clash at the Fresh Cut poultry waste treatment plant, filed his nomination for ward 11 on Thursday, despite being absconding for over a month. The police were caught off guard after learning that Babu, chairman of the protest committee against the plant, executed a covert re-entry into India solely to contest the polls. Investigators said he flew from his hideout in the UAE to Nepal, crossed into India by road to evade immigration checks, and then took a domestic flight to Kozhikode. Since the LOC does not apply to internal travel, he managed to sign nomination papers untracked. He left the district immediately after. The operation was allegedly facilitated by local party functionaries. The police have taken into custody Hafis Rahman, former IUML panchayat president, for coordinating Babus movements and arranging the meeting with a gazetted officer required for filing the nomination. The UDF and the Congress, meanwhile, are standing firmly by their choice. Panchayat president A Aravindan called the police case fabricated and described Babu as a victim and a leader who understands local issues. The area remains tense, with posters from families affected by the Fresh Cut plant asking parties not to seek votes. Babu faces LDFs Navas, another local resident, as police intensify efforts to nab the accused. Some victims of the Fresh Cut plant expressed their helpless situation through some posters. However, the protest committee has decided that staying aloof from the panchayat election will not benefit anything, said Thampi P P, protest committee leader. Despite police confidence in eventually apprehending the accused, the question now gripping Thamarassery is whether the fugitive candidate will risk a public appearance during the high-stakes campaign, or if his entire election bid will be conducted from the shadows.

One more death due to amoebic fever in Kozhikode

Election authorities to check suspected entry of minors names on voters list in Kozhikode

The details of six students, whose names were reportedly added after alleged Aadhar card alteration, have been submitted to the election authorities for action

Onchiyam where CPM, RMP are locked in a bitter turf war

KOZHIKODE: As Kerala inches closer to the local body elections, all eyes are once again on Onchiyam, the politically charged panchayat that has long been synonymous with red flags, ideological clashes, and the lingering shadow of a political murder that reshaped the Left in Kerala. For decades, Onchiyam was considered an unshakable fortress of CPM. But that changed in 2010 when the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP), born out of rebellion and blood, captured power following the brutal killing of its founder, T P Chandrasekharan, a former CPM leader who was expelled from the party. Since then, the RMP and the CPM have been locked in a bitter turf war for control over this small but politically symbolic panchayat. Once a CPM bastion, Onchiyam transformed into the RMPs ideological capital after Chandrasekharans murder in 2012. His widow, K K Rema, rose from tragedy to political prominence, representing the RMP in the state assembly. RMP has strengthened its roots in Onchiyam. Development has been visible, especially since K K Rema became an MLA. The CPM no longer has the same influence here, according to the local residents. But for some others, There hasnt been any real development in 15 years. Whatever work happened benefited their own people. The CPM will bring discipline and structure back if they return. RMP MLA K K Rema, who has become the face of anti-CPM Left politics, exudes confidence as she campaigns through Onchiyam. The development visible in Onchiyam is both from the panchayats work and my initiatives as an MLA. In this digital age, no one can mislead voters. CPM can show gimmicks at the end of their tenure, but the truth is visible, even in their own panchayats. RMP has set an example of transparent governance. I am confident we will win more seats than before, said Rema. The Left ideology no longer exists within the CPM. They have aligned with capitalist and communal forces. What ideals do they have left to tell voters? Their campaign is filled with fake propaganda on social media. But people are not fools. They can see whats been done, and they will deliver a verdict based on facts. The Left will face a historic defeat in Onchiyam and across Kerala. Responding sharply to Remas remarks, T P Bineesh, CPM Onchiyam area secretary, asserted that the LDF is poised for a comeback. There is no doubt, the LDF will recapture the Onchiyam panchayat. The party has grown politically in this region. In the last election, CPM lost by a narrow margin, but the people have seen our continuous grassroots work. We are confident of a massive return, he said. Bineesh emphasised that the CPM campaign focuses on peoples welfare, not personalities. We are not concerned about what the MLA or opponents say. Our politics connects with ordinary people, not through social media but through direct engagement. The people of Onchiyam know who truly represents their interests, and that clarity will be reflected in the ballot box, he added.

Fishermen list long-standing woes ahead of local polls in Kozhikode district

They say an affordable housing scheme without relocating them from the existing location is the top priority which they want to materialise with the support of local administrators

LDF MLA Jaleel accuses IUML of reviving Muslim unity slogan with extremist backing ahead of polls

KOZHIKODE: K T Jaleel, MLA, has alleged that the IUML has the shameful history of raising the slogan of Muslim unity whenever the party is in crisis. In an article published in the Deshabhimani daily on Friday, he said the party is using the same weapon in the ensuing elections too, this time with the help of Islamic extremists, cyber warriors and anti-communists. Jaleel said the slogan of Muslim unity was first raised after the merger of the IUML and the All-India Muslim League. League arrogated that all mainstream Muslim organisations have paraded behind the party. But the people had decided to keep the UDF and the IUML in the opposition, he said. After the failed attempt, the party is now raising the same slogan. The IUML could not digest the fact that the LDF returned to power in 2021. The party joined hands with the Jamaat-e-Islami, which was once its arch enemy, he said. The kind of communal propaganda unleashed by the Jamaat-IUML combine is worse than the previous one, he added. Jaleel said the WhatsApp groups of IUML sympathisers and family members are now filled with communally provocative materials. The party is under the false impression that it is the Jamaat media which shapes the thought process of the Muslim community, he said. According to Jaleel, this has resulted in similar materials getting circulated in Hindu and Christian family groups and are being spread widely by the Sangh Parivar and CASA. He believes that this process will be strengthened if the communal forces are not defeated. Jaleel said the election of Zohran Mamdani as the mayor of New York from a place where there are less than 5%Muslims should be a lesson. He was elected from a place where the Jews and Christians are the majority. Mamdani would not have won if every community had thought of its own issues, he said. Jaleel exhorted the people to make the LDF, a coalition of people from all religions, victorious in the upcoming polls.

Zero-vote candidate has nothing to lose, everything to gain in Kerala

KOZHIKODE: O P Rasheed, the candidate who made headlines in the 2020 local-body elections by failing to secure even a single vote, is back in the fray. Far from being disheartened, Rasheed insists that his previous defeat was not a setback but a successful strategic move crafted by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to ensure the victory of Karat Faizal. Speaking with discernible confidence, Rasheed maintains that the zero-vote episode will not be repeated this time. In 2020, the LDF initially selected Faizal as its candidate for the Chundapparamba division. However, Faizal was at the receiving end of public criticism owing to allegations linked to the infamous gold smuggling case. Growing protests and intense backlash put the LDF leadership in a difficult position. To quell the unrest, the LDF replaced Faizal with O P Rasheed, who represented the National Youth League. But the election results were shocking as Rasheed did not receive even a single vote, not even his own. Running as an independent, Faizal went on to win the seat by a margin of 82 votes. It was all planned, claims Rasheed. Now, Rasheed asserts that the surprising numbers of 2020 were no accident. According to him, the LDF had never abandoned Faizal in spirit, even though his official candidature was withdrawn. Voters did not reject Faizal. LDF workers and committees rallied behind him. My candidature was part of a strategy. Zero votes were part of that plan. It was our victory, he says. Rasheed notes that he actively participated in the early stages of the campaign and insists that had he received even a few votes, Faizal might have lost. I stood as a candidate only to ensure Faizals win, he claims. This time, Rasheed is contesting from KTK (Kedekkunnu) division and is confident of a clear victory. He asserts that he is no longer playing a strategic role but is genuinely contesting to win. Meanwhile, Faizal whom Rasheed helped secure victory earlier is contesting the upcoming election as an LDF-backed independent from South Koduvally. Faizal maintains that the issues surrounding the gold smuggling allegations no longer matter, and the CPM reportedly sees no problem with his candidature.

9,977 candidates file nominations in Kozhikode district

ED raids residences of former MLA P.V. Anvar, relatives in Kerala in load fraud case

Multiple teams of the ED from Chennai, Kochi and Kozhikode units, supported by the Central police force, began the raid at six houses soon after dawn

Defections across parties roil pre-poll scene in Kozhikode district

Long-time party workers from multiple political fronts are on the list of persons who recently quit their parent organisations after disagreements over candidate selection

Murder of a merchant without a past

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Long before police pieced together the lies he lived and died for, Harihara Varma built a life like a man who knew how to stay just outside the reach of questions. He sold gemstones whose origins he never fully explained, claimed ancestral links he never proved and told stories so confidently that even seasoned buyers found themselves leaning in. It was these tales that drew a group of young men into his orbit, ultimately paving way for his demise. What happened on December 24, 2012, was a murder wrapped inside a scam. Varma walked into what he believed was a business deal with buyers from Karnataka who posed as high-profile men looking to acquire rare and precious stones. In truth, everything about that meeting was scripted, a trap the gang spent seven months constructing. They used SIM cards acquired using fake Aadhaar cards. They created a fictitious persona the son of a Karnataka minister to make the deal look grander. A lawyer, the sixth accused, was the middleman. The meeting place was the lawyers daughters locked house in Vattiyoorkavu. The police would later say the planning was almost immaculate. But as retired Intelligence Range SP R Prathapan Nair, who was part of the Special Investigation Team, puts it, No matter how meticulous, there will always be a lead. Harihara Varma In this case, the lead was a phone number the killers thought they had erased. All their devices were destroyed after the murder, every SIM discarded. But one phone number they had used to contact Varma, eight months earlier, resurfaced under the Vattiyoorkavu mobile tower on the very day the murder took place. It was enough. Once police pulled that thread, the rest of the conspiracy was solved. The gangs plan was not to kill him but to sedate him, take the stones and disappear. When negotiations failed and Varma refused to finalise the deal, they tried sedatives and then chloroform. The dosage went wrong, and the robbery turned into homicide. But the real mystery of the case was not the murder. It was the man at the centre of it. Police soon realised that very little about Harihara Varma was real. His tales of a Poonjar ancestral lineage and inherited jewels were fabrications. His documents raised more questions than answers. To this day, officers believe he might have been an orphan, someone who ran away in his teens, wandered across northern India, and slowly built a new identity. The police made enquiries to various royal families. However, they couldnt find anyone named Bhaskara Varma and his son Harihara Varma. Even the stones that drove the conspiracy turned out to be far less valuable than believed. Then assistant commissioner, now Kozhikode Rural SP K E Baiju, recalls how the team searched across the country for an accredited gem expert to authenticate Varmas collection. There was none. The stones were eventually deemed semi-precious, worth about `30 lakh together, nothing to justify the greedy fantasy that led to his death. They thought it was worth `300 crore, says Baiju. Varmas wife, Girija Menon, later moved the court, saying some stones had ties to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. But since the investigation could never establish anything substantial, thecourt later dismissed it. She had lived with him for more than 15 years. Yet, even when the investigation reached its most crucial stages, his wife did not disclose his identity. I believe she knows. But we cannot force them into polygraph tests, adds Baiju. The case was later handed over to the crime branch. They found 3,647 gemstones, which included 65 pearls, 73 emeralds, 22 chrysoberyl stones, 4 rubies, 5 sapphires and 29 yellow sapphires. Several were brilliantly cut, some were unpolished, some were of doubtful quality, and 341 of them were later determined to be artificial. However, a geologist who examined them would testify that 3,306 stones were naturally formed precious stones, even if not all were high-value gems. The killers Jithesh, Ajeesh, Rakhil, and Ragesh were eventually convicted and handed life sentences. Joseph and lawyer Haridas were acquitted. The murder investigation was closed with clarity. However, the tale of Varma, his origins, his curated persona, and his secrets remain unresolved to date. The man left behind no verifiable past. CasE diary This weekly column brings you exciting, intriguing police stories, straight from the crime files

Sunni scholars caution against misleading Sufi groups

KOZHIKODE: Sunni scholars are cautioning believers against certain Sufi orders that they claim stand against the basic tenets of Islam and are spreading un-Islamic ideas in the name of Sufism. The immediate provocation was a press conference conducted by an organisation called the Sufi Islamic Board - Kerala on November 7 in Mannarkkad, Palakkad. In an article published in the Suprabhaatham daily, Islamic scholar Shuhaibul Haithami said the assertions made at the press conference were weird and make Sufism the launching pad for disbelief. Haithami said the basis of secular Sufis is the idea that one should forsake religion and become a human being, which is the slogan of atheists. The Sufi Islamic Boards argument that the Advaita concept of Aham Brahmasmi (I am the divine consciousness) and Islam are the same is born out of ignorance, he said. Haithami argued that there are different motives behind the creation of a common religion by mixing certain elements from existing faiths. There are attempts to assert that all religions are true. These Sufis also try create confusion by quoting Sufi poets like Jalaluddin Rumi and Omar Khayyam out of context, he said. He said the 62nd verse of the Surah Al Baqarah in the Quran has been constantly misinterpreted to argue that it is not mandatory to have faith in Islam and being a good human being is enough. The message of the Prophet is not to become good human beings but to worship Allah and to recognise Muhammad as the Prophet, Haithami said. In a related development, the mushawara (supreme consultative body) of the Kanthapuram faction of Sunnis said that Sufi are people who love and obey Allah and his Prophet and those who move away from this path cannot be treated as Sufis. A meeting of the mushawara on November 10 warned believers against falling into the trap of fake Sufis. It said Sheikh Jeelani, the leader of the true Sufis, had reminded that many of those who pose as Sufia may not be the real Sufis. We should be vigilant, especially when the enemies of Islam are getting organised under different titles, felt the mushawara, which was attended by senior scholars, including Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar and E Sulaiman Musliyar. At their presser, office-bearers of the Sufi Islamic Board said the Prophet propagated love, not the religion of Islam. They said the organisation includes people of all religions and upholds the tradition of the country that welcomed all faiths. They claimed that the board has been recognised by the Union ministry for youth and Sports.

Measures will be implemented to resolve landslides on Thamarassery pass: Gadkari to Priyanka

WAYANAD (Kerala), Nov 19: Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has informed Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra that steps have been taken to implement long and short-term remedial measures to resolve the landslide problems at the Thamarassery pass, the party said in a statement. Priyanka had written to Gadkari about the issue after landslides had disrupted traffic on the pass, a major route connecting Wayanad with the nearby Kozhikode district, for several days in August. She had sought a study by [] The post Measures will be implemented to resolve landslides on Thamarassery pass: Gadkari to Priyanka appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Ex-Deputy Collector joins the poll fray in Kozhikode

E. Antihakumari, who retired from service in May 2025, is contesting the local body election as LDF candidate from the Mathottam ward of the Kozhikode Corporation

Student killed in road accident in Kozhikode

Control room opened to handle complaints on brewing of illicit liquor in Kozhikode

UDF manifesto for T'Puram corporation to focus on drinking water, roads & waste management

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the local body election campaign moves to the second phase, the UDF will release its manifesto for Thiruvananthapuram corporation this week. Congress campaign chief K Muraleedharan said the document focuses on voter priorities, fixing drinking-water shortages, repairing roads and improving waste management, and not just on high-tech promises. We are taking our pledges door to door. First we produced a chargesheet on the LDFs corporation rule, now we will present our manifesto, he said, adding that the party will highlight local governance failures while also raising state-level issues. Muraleedharan alleged widespread tampering of the voters list, citing the issues involving Muttada candidate Vyshna Suresh and Kozhikode mayoral hopeful V M Vinu as examples. KPCC discussed these issues and decided to take them up at the state level. Meanwhile, the candidates are moving ahead with their campaigns, said Muraleedharan. According to him, Vyshnas attempts to correct erroneous entries were rejected. Stressing on the importance of projecting a mayoral candidate, Muraleedharan, said BJPs mayoral candidate R Sreelekhas comments would backfire on her. Her criticism of Kuthiyottam ritual associated with Attukal Pongala, portrayal of NSS institutions as bribe takers and her stand against killing stray dogs would not only impact her and the BJP, he said. He also criticised S P Deepak, the CPMs mayoral candidate, for making disparaging comments against the protest of ASHA workers. He pointed out the unscientific aspects of ward delimitations, citing examples of Beemapalli and Pangappara wards. In the corporation, Beemapalli South and East were merged. While Beemapalli ward has the maximum number of voters at 17,000, Pangapara has just 3,000 voters. If Rs 1 crore is being allocated to the local bodies, the ward with 17,000 people and that with 3,000 people would get the same amount, he said, stressing the how the scenario could lead to disproportionate distribution of funds.

Unprecedented rush at Sabarimala leads to system collapse, chaos

PATHANAMTHITTA: An unprecedented surge of devotees in the opening days of the Sabarimala season caught the authorities unawares, throwing crowd management arrangements haywire and leaving pilgrims stranded in queues for over 10 hours without food or water on Tuesday. Many of them collapsed from exhaustion. More than two lakh pilgrims reached Sannidhanam in the first 48 hours of the season, far exceeding the daily quota of 90,000 (including 70,000 virtual queue bookings). Till noon on Tuesday alone, 44,401 pilgrims completed darshan. Darshan hours were extended till 2 pm, and barricades near the 18 holy steps were breached leading to a chaotic situation. In previous years, only 40,000 to 50,000 pilgrims visited the hill shrine per day in the initial days of the season, authorities said. The serpentine queues moved at a snails pace with devotees taking six to seven hours to reach the nadappanthal from Pampa. Once the nadappanthal became choked, those who had completed darshan struggled to exit. Many pilgrims bypassed barricades and entered from multiple directions on way to Sannidhanam. The diversion of pilgrims arriving via Erumeli through the staff gate eased congestion but prevented many from accessing the 18 holy steps, an essential ritual. Meanwhile, a pilgrim identified as K Sathi, 59, from Koyilandy in Kozhikode, died of a heart attack on the trekking path at Appachimedu near Pampa while she was on her way to the hill shrine. Travanncore Devaswom Board president Jayakumar said the surge of devotees witnessed as soon as the season began was unexpected, and surpassed all estimates. Vehicle flow at Nilakkal regulated The absence of Central forces, sought in advance, added to the pressure, he said. According to ADGP S Sreejith, who oversees Sabarimala security, the NDRF and RAF teams requested by the state are yet to arrive. The virtual queue accommodates 70,000 pilgrims, and we have capped spot booking at 20,000. It should have remained within that limit. However, the situation turned chaotic after large groups without any booking arrived seeking spot tickets. Many others who had spot bookings for future dates also reached Sannidhanam much before their allotted day. All of this triggered the surge, Sreejith said. Vehicle movement at Nilakkal has been strictly regulated, he said. What led to crisis Spot bookings exceeded prescribed daily cap of 20,000 Many who had bookings for future dates reached Sannidhanam early Surge in devotees entering via Erumeli and unauthorised forest paths Ineffective regulation of pilgrim flow at Nilakkal Absence of central forces Measures planned Spot bookings capped at 20,000 a day. Those arriving after the limit will have to wait until the next day Pilgrim flow to be regulated at Pampa itself; devotees urged to avoid unauthorised forest paths Unused queue complexes to be fully utilised to ease rush

Malayan family reinstated for ritual at Shiva temple in Kerala's Kunnummakkara

KOZHIKODE: The administration committee of the Elambangottu Kavu Shiva temple in Kunnummakkara, Vadakara, has reversed its controversial decision to bar members of the backward Malayan community from performing a decades-old percussion ritual. The move comes in the backdrop of legal pressure and public backlash over caste-based discrimination. The controversy stemmed from the committees decision last year to exclude a Malayan family comprising brothers Sudheesh M, Vinodhan M, and Ratheesh M, and their uncle Kunjiraman from the traditional vadhyam (percussion) performance, breaking a practice that had spanned nearly 60 years at the temples Mandala Vilakku and Shivaratri festivals. According to the familys complaint, temple committee president Sudheeran K M told Sudheesh in 2024 that the kuthuvilakku ritual would be taken over by the Nambeesan caste, a decision that would also end the Malayan familys participation in vadhyam. Earlier this month, Sudheesh was allegedly asked to sign a document under duress and offered Rs 10,000 as dakshina to step aside, the complaint said. We are local residents and live within a 500-metre perimeter of the temple. The temple authorities arranged percussionists from the Marar community, who are living in Villiappally, around 5 km away from our village, Sudheesh said. Though one of the brothers was later allowed to perform after discussions, the family claimed they were barred from performing before the sanctum sanctorum and made to stand outside the nalambalam and were refused permission to join the ritual procession (pradakshinam), causing public humiliation based on caste. The issue took a new turn when the State SC/ST Commission intervened on November 14, directing Edacherry police to register a case and submit a report within 20 days.

Mayin Haji accused of unilateral decisions in Kozhikode corporation candidate selection

KOZHIKODE: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is facing an unprecedented internal revolt in Kozhikode. Traditionally characterised by its strict organisational discipline, the party is broiled in accusations of unilateral decisions in candidate selection and apathy from its state leadership. The deepening crisis, which includes multiple resignations and electoral pacts with rivals, challenges the IUML ahead of the upcoming polls. At the centre of the storm is IUML state vice-president M C Mayin Haji, who is accused of making unilateral decisions in the candidate selection process for the Kozhikode corporation. The pressure has already led to the resignation of senior party leader U Pocker, a state secretariat member, over the candidate choice in the Nallalam division. He later announced his affiliation with the rival CPM in the civic polls. Pocker, a preferred candidate of the Jayanti Road unit, was replaced by regional president V P Ibrahim, prompting the units members to resign en masse. Following his exit, Pocker alleged that the partys system is now controlled by middle leaders like M C Mayin Haji. He also claimed that Haji is carrying out dictatorship and influencing the state leadership through threats and pressure. Lamenting the absence of the firm, decisive leadership once provided by Panakkad Thangal or P K Kunhalikutty, Pocker noted that there were no such interventions now by the state leadership. The dissent has also resulted the resignation of Moonalingal councillor K Ramlath, and UDF constituency chairman Musthafa Moozhikkal along with his wife Sajida Musthafa, a Muslim Womens League leader. However, Mayin Haji has denied any internal crisis in the party, labelling Pockers exit as an isolated issue. He also argued that such conflicts were natural during candidate selection and will be resolved at the district level. Meanwhile, IUML state secretary Shafi Chaliyam has confirmed that the party would address the issue internally. We will study the circumstances that led to Pocker leaving the party. He was a senior leader, after all.

Season of defections in Kozhikode

Candidates launch ward-level campaigns across Kozhikode district

Cardiological SocietyKerala condemns false media reports linking Kozhikode cardiologist to Delhi blast

KOCHI: The Cardiological Society of India (CSI), Kerala Chapter, has issued a strong statement condemning the circulation of false and misleading media reports across India that wrongly linked Dr Arif Mohammed, a young cardiologist from Kozhikode, to the recent Delhi bombing incident . Several media outlets and social media posts have misused Dr Arifs photograph and identity, causing severe distress to him and those around him. Dr Arif, who is currently working at the Metromed International Cardiac Centre in Kozhikode, completed his DM in Cardiology from Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in 2021 and has no connection whatsoever with the incident in Delhi. Terming the incident 'deeply disturbing,' Dr P K Asokan, President, CSI Kerala, said the careless publication of incorrect information has inflicted immense mental trauma on an innocent doctor, his family, and the medical community. An innocent professional has been dragged into a situation he has nothing to do with. The reckless circulation of his picture and personal details is unacceptable. We urge authorities to intervene urgently, stop the spread of this misinformation, and take strict action against those responsible, Dr Asokan said. The CSI Kerala Chapter emphasised that the episode underscores a major lapse in responsible journalism and fact-checking practices. Media houses and social media users must verify facts with utmost care. Publishing unverified information can destroy reputations and lives, Dr Asokan added. In the statement issued by Dr P K Asokan, president, and Dr Jo Joseph, secretary, the organisation has called upon all media outlets to immediately retract the erroneous reports, issue clarifications where necessary, and exercise restraint in future reporting. The public has also been urged not to share or amplify misleading content.

Harithas ousted leaders make powerful return as IUML picks

MALAPPURAM: In a remarkable shift within the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the young women of Haritha once pushed out of Leagues political arena have now returned as some of the partys most prominent candidates in the local body election. Three former Haritha leadersFathima Tahiliya, Mufeeda Thesni, and T Najma Tabsheerawho were sidelined after they filed a sexual-harassment complaint against MSF state president P K Nawas in 2021 are now being fielded by the IUML in key wards. Once blacklisted and removed after the party dissolved the Haritha state committee for taking their complaint public, the trio has now re-emerged at the very centre of the Leagues new political messaging. Fathima Tahiliya is contesting from the Kuttichira division of the Kozhikode corporation, where the party is even considering her for the deputy mayors post. Mufeeda Thesni has been fielded from the newly formed Tharuvana division of the Wayanad district panchayat, and Najma Tabsheera is contesting from Valampuram in the Perinthalmanna block panchayat, where she is the presidential candidate. This change began after Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal took charge as state president. The party made a conscious decision to ensure more representation for women across all wings, said Fathima. This transformation is organic -- it would have happened even without the protests. Najma, who previously won from Tirurkkad and now serves as chairperson of the block standing committee, calls this shift historic. If you look closely at the IUML list this time, many highly educated women are being considered for chairperson and president posts. That itself is a big message, she said. For Mufeeda, the 2021 crisis was the turning point. It changed the trajectory of the Muslim League, she said. We were not the only ones who fought -- many Haritha members stood with us and pushed the party to rethink. The results are visible now: young candidates are everywhere in the list. Two years after the party action, in 2024 Harithas members were given key positions in the party. Fathima was selected as Youth League state secretary, Mufeeda is the national vice president, and Najma is the national secretary. From dissolution to elevation, their return signals not just personal vindication but a deeper ideological shift within the Muslim League itself.

52 candidates submit nominations in Kozhikode district

Tale of the Congress surprise candidate in Kozhikode

Event in memory of V.S. Achuthanandan in Kozhikode

Cardiologists condemn false media reports implicating doctor from Kozhikode in Delhi blast case

Healthcare Management And AI Programme Launched By Indian Institute Of Management Kozhikode

The application deadline is November 19 and candidates who enrol before the deadline will receive a benefit of Rs 8,000.

Only 11.4 per cent of deaths in Kerala medically certified in 2023

KOLLAM: How many know that a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is legally required when a person dies under the care of a doctor, whether in a government hospital, private hospital, or at home? Despite Keralas reputation as a public health model, the state shows a serious gap in the medical certification of deaths. Only 11.4% of the deaths registered in the state in 2023 were medically certified, according to the latest MCCD report of the department of economics and statistics. Out of 30.4 lakh deaths registered, just 34,705 had a doctors certificate recording the cause of death. That despite MCCD being mandatory under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act when a doctor attended the patient during the last illness. The report points to limited implementation, with the MCCD scheme functioning only in five urban local bodies Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Kozhikode and Alappuzha covering just 150 hospitals across both public and private sectors. Among the medically certified deaths, circulatory diseases such as heart attacks and strokes account for 26.4%. Diabetes-related deaths have doubled over the past decade, rising from 10% in 2014 to 19% in 2023. However, the report notes that these figures likely represent only a small portion of Keralas actual disease burden. The report also says that when preparing MCCD, doctors must note the underlying cause the root disease or condition that initiated the chain of events leading to death along with the immediate cause of death. Accurate documentation helps the government understand mortality trends and plan health interventions, particularly in managing chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. A senior health department official tells TNIE that many government hospitals are not consistently following MCCD norms. Most hospitals skip issuing MCCD The cause of death is always a sensitive issue. Hospitals often record only the final event, like heart attack or multi-organ failure, without noting the underlying condition. Most hospitals skip issuing MCCD, and the details remain only in the patients case summary. Relatives are also not aware of the requirement, so they rarely demand it, the official said. Another official with the health department says families usually seek the certificate only when faced with insurance claims, pension benefits, inheritance procedures or legal disputes. Most families are not interested in MCCD unless they run into a legal or financial issue. When the cause of death is not certified, they may face delays or denial of benefits. Hospitals also avoid the process because the government is not pushing for it. A simple circular could make hospitals comply, he said.

Poll picture becomes clearer in Kozhikode

LDF announces candidates for 73 divisions in Corpn; UDF announces majority of candidates; BJP to complete candidate list for Corpn. as well as district panchayat on Sunday

A unique MT tribute to mark BEAME@500

For over four decades, the Bank Employees Arts Movement - Ernakulam (BEAME) has stood as a beacon of cultural and artistic zest in the city. What began as a modest initiative by a group of art-loving bank employees in the early 1980s has today grown into one of Keralas most active cultural collectives. On November 17, the collective will mark a remarkable milestone its 500th monthly cultural programme. Set to be held at TDM Hall, the event promises to be a unique celebration of BEAMEs journey. The 500th programme is not just a number for us. It is a big feat, something that started in 1983 is continuing even after 42 years. Its a celebration of people coming together for the love of art, says K S Ravindran, the president of the collective. The highlight of the evening will be MT: Ezhuthinte Aathmavu, a unique visual presentation bringing together a blend of theatre, music, and dance. Presented in collaboration with the Ernakulam Karayogam, this audio-visual production has been brought to life by Sabarmathi Theatre Village, Perambra, Kozhikode. The presentation pays tribute to the legendary writer M T Vasudevan Nair. It has been written by Amsis Muhammed and directed by Preman Muchukunnu, a recipient of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award. About 30 artistes, including 8 dancers from Kerala Kalamandalam, will take part in the performance. Characters such as Velayudhan from Iruttinte Athmavu; Ola, Bapputty and Zainaba from Olavum Theeravum; Vimala from Manju; Pallival and the glowing field from Kaalchilambu; Bhima and Draupadi from Randamoozham; and Judas from Akkaldamayil Pookkal Vidarumbol will be seen engaging in an imaginative dialogue with MT, who also appears as a central character in the performance. Since its inception in 1983, BEAME has been a cultural forum that has brought artforms from across India to audiences in Ernakulam. Their first programme, Samanvayam, set the tone for what would become a remarkable tradition. Since then, every month without fail (except during the pandemic), BEAME has presented an event celebrating diverse forms of art classical music, contemporary theatre, folk dance, poetry recitals, visual arts. Sudharani Raghupathy, Padma Subrahmanyam, and Chitra Visweswaran Over the decades, BEAME has hosted some of Indias most illustrious artistes, including M Balamuralikrishna, K J Yesudas, Sonal Mansingh, Meenakshi Seshadri, and Shobhana. One such event, held in 2000, brought together three Bharatanatyam icons Padma Subrahmanyam, Sudharani Raghupathy, and Chitra Visweswaran in a rare recital. Ravindran adds that it is not just established names that have been hosted. Recently, I saw a Mohiniyattom performance by Jamsheena Jamal, an MA student at RLV College. She was magnificent. We offered her a slot for another upcoming programme, he says. Notably, BEAME has transformed into an organisation run by art lovers from various backgrounds. We have over 1,000 members, and offer public membership now. Anyone interested can join us, he smiles. Shobana Justice Krishna Iyer with Mammootty at the 100th programme of BEAME Usha Nangiar presenting Nangiar Koothu Mudiyettu

Teen with disability uses AI to turn waste into wonders

KOZHIKODE: He can neither read nor write, but 15-year-old Ajsal from Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district has found a unique way to learn -- through artificial intelligence. A student with learning disabilities, Ajsal creates fascinating working models from discarded materials that leave everyone around him amazed. The second of three children born to Jamal and Sabeera of Cheppilamkode, Kadaikal, Ajsal spends most of his time turning waste into art. Using old wires, bottles, and cardboard, he has crafted models of dinosaurs, horror movie characters like Demon the Ghost, and several other imaginative creations, all from the confines of his home. Until the age of twelve, life was a daily struggle for Ajsals family. He couldnt step out of the house. If we sent him to school, he wouldnt stay in class. Sometimes he would even attack others. It was very difficult to manage him, recalls his mother, Sabeera. We couldnt attend any family functions because of his unpredictable behaviour. But everything began to change when one day when Ajsal gathered discarded items and made a figure of a little boy. Soon, he started making dinosaurs and models of ghosts from horror films. Thats when we noticed a change in him, says Sabeera. He became calmer, more focused, and we started encouraging his creativity. Ajsal says his journey began with curiosity. Since childhood, I loved collecting small things I found around me. Then I started watching YouTube videos and learned how to make figures from waste materials, he explains. Though he cannot read or write, Ajsal uses AI and voice typing to explore and learn. Through AI, Ive learned about science, art, and even some English and Hindi. Its like my teacher, he says proudly. Without any formal training, Ajsal has also mastered skating, performing with the ease and confidence of a professional. When asked about his dream, Ajsal says, Albert Einstein is my role model. I want to become a scientist one day.

Lightning strikes two houses in Kozhikode

Election buzz boosts business in Kozhikode with bespoke campaign merchandise

From snazzy paper posters to custom-made keychains and colourful headgears, the shops are buzzing with activity as the creative entrepreneurs try to tap into the growing demand

Ice orathi and pickled vegetables at the new food street on Kozhikode beach

As Kozhikode enforces new food safety measures, the food carts that once defined the beach make way for modern, numbered food stalls

Kerala teen dies after falling from a building

DUBAI, Nov 14: A Kerala teen, who was visiting Dubai, died after falling from the top of a building in Deira, local media reported. Mohammed Mishal, 19, from Kozhikode district of Kerala, was visiting his cousins and had been in Dubai for about 15 days, Gulf News reported. The incident occurred on November 7 when Mishal reportedly went to the terrace of a multi-storey building to take photographs of flights. He was staying with his cousins here while his [] The post Kerala teen dies after falling from a building appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Local body polls: Final picture likely to emerge soon in Kozhikode

While the LDF declared most of its candidates for the district panchayat, the Congress announced its second list of nominees, including filmmaker V.M. Vinu, for the Kozhikode Corporation

CAT 2025 mock test link active at iimcat.ac.in: Here is how to attempt practice exam online

IIM Kozhikode has launched the official CAT 2025 mock test, offering aspirants a realistic simulation of the exam interface, structure, and timing. Candidates can access the test on iimcat.ac.in to familiarize themselves with the VARC, DILR, and QA sections. This crucial practice helps in strategizing and building confidence before the November 30th exam.

Kerala HC suggests state move Supreme Court against ECs Special Revision drive

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday suggested that it would be appropriate for the state government to approach the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of Indias decision to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Kerala. During the hearing of the petition filed by the state government, Justice V G Arun said it would be better to approach the Supreme Court, as several other states have also filed Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) against the SIR. The court will pass an order on Friday on the states petition seeking deferment of the SIR until the local body elections are over. Advocate General K Gopalakrishna Kurup argued that the state has not questioned the validity of the Election Commissions SIR and that the writ petition is confined solely to seeking its deferment within the state until the local body elections are concluded. The state government contended that conducting the SIR simultaneously with the local body elections would hinder their smooth conduct. The general elections to the LSGIs are a massive exercise requiring the deployment of 1,76,000 personnel from government and quasi-government services for election-related duties, along with an additional 68,000 police and other security personnel for election-related security duties. The state pointed out that elections to the LSGIs in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam have been scheduled for December 9, while those in Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod are scheduled for December 11. The election notification will be issued on November 14. The last date for filing nominations is November 21, scrutiny will be on November 22, and withdrawals will be allowed until November 24. Counting will be held on December 13, and the last date for completing the election process is December 18. The guidelines show that the SIR involves a comprehensive and cumbersome procedure. The state would face an administrative deadlock if it conducted the LSGI elections and the SIR simultaneously, the Advocate General submitted. Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, counsel for the Election Commission of India, submitted that the SIR exercise was announced as early as October 27. BLOs were appointed and trained, and the SIR began on November 4. By now, 55 percent of the enumeration work has been completed, and the entire process is to be concluded within one month, ending on December 4. This exercise involves only obtaining the electors signature. The enumeration forms are pre-filled with the Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers, addresses, and other details. These forms are taken door to door by BLOs and agents of political parties, who obtain electors signatures before uploading the completed forms. More than half the exercise has already been completed, and the process is underway. The state should have approached the Supreme Court, Dwivedi submitted, adding that any intervention at this point by the High Court would interrupt the process mid-way.

Dispute over seat sharing, BDJS boycotts NDA candidate announcement meetings

KOCHI: Expressing discontent over the highhanded approach of BJP in seat sharing, Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), a major partner of the NDA in Kerala, boycotted the meetings held in Ernakulam and Alappuzha to announce candidates for the local body elections on Wednesday. The BDJS had demanded 10 seats in Kochi Corporation. However, as talks failed to reach a consensus, the BJP announced only 32 candidates in the 76 seats in Kochi Corporation. In Alappuzha South organisational district, the NDA had organised four meetings to announce the candidates at Mavelikkara, Kayamkulam, Chengannur and Haripad on Wednesday. The announcements were made by BJP state secretary S Suresh, state general secretary Anoop Antony, senior leader P C George and state vice-president B Gopalakrishnan. However, the absence of BDJS leaders reflected the growing discontent in the front. Despite Alappuzha being a stronghold of BDJS, there was no reference about party president Thushar Vellappally in the poster of the programme. The BJP unilaterally announced candidates in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode corporations. Even in Palakkad municipality, there was no discussion. This is against the principles of cooperation within the alliance. If the BJP does not want our support, we are ready to contest alone. We will be announcing our candidates for 20 seats in Thiruvananthapuram in a couple of days. Though BJP state president is ready to negotiate, some leaders of the party are very arrogant in their approach, a senior leader of BDJS told TNIE. Meanwhile, Rajeev Chandrasekhar has convened a meeting of NDA leaders in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday to discuss the issues.

Six members inducted into Samastha mushawara

KOZHIKODE: Samastha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulama has inducted six new members in the vacant positions in the central mushawara (consultation body). At the meeting held here on Wednesday, it incorporated Alavi Faizi Kolaparambu, T K Aboobacker Musaliyar Velimukku, P Saithalavi Musaliyar Mambuzha, Abdul Gafoor Anwari, Basheer Faizi Cheekkonnu and Muhammad Shafeef Baqavi and the new members. Curiously, no member of the Panakkad family has been inducted into the mushawara. There were reports that either Panakkad Syed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal or Abbas Ali Shihab Thangal will find a berth in the highest body as part of the compromise formula reached between Samastha and the IUML. Significantly, mushawara member M P Musthaful Faizi, who was suspended from the body, was not taken back. Faizi is a known IUML-supporter in the mushawara. He was placed under suspension for speaking against Samastha president Syed Muhammad Jiffiri Muthukoya Thangal. Revoking the suspension was also learnt to be one of the ingredients of the compromise formula. In a press release on the mushawara meeting, Jiffiri Thangal said a meeting will be held in Tamil Nadu next month as part of the centenary of Samastha. Samasthas national conference will be held in Delhi on November 23 and 24.

Staff, space crunch chokes Kozhikode MCH

KOZHIKODE: In the dim, overcrowded corridors of the old block at the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), one of Keralas largest and most reputed public health institutions, pain and exhaustion have become routine. The smell of antiseptic mixes with the stifling heat of human suffering as patients lie side by side on thin mats, clutching their saline bottles hung from iron window grills and door handles. Even the verandas have turned into makeshift wards. Glucose drips dangle from nails on the walls. Nurses crouch on the floor to insert IV lines, while resident doctors move from one patient to another, bending down to check blood pressure or oxygen levels. This is not how medicine should be practised, said a senior physician, shaking his head. It breaks our hearts to see patients lying on the floor, but we have nowhere to put them. The old block is the worst affected. The wards are bursting at the seams, said a senior resident in the medicine department. We examine more than 500 patients daily. There are moments when two or three patients share one bed, and when even thats impossible, they lie on the verandah. Sometimes, even that space runs out. Inside Ward 9, a 58-year-old from Malappuram lies near the door, his saline bottle tied to a piece of rope hanging from a window latch. We came here because we cant afford private hospitals, he said weakly. But here, we are surviving, not healing. The mosquitoes dont let us sleep. Still, where else can we go? In another corner, Sujatha (name changed) wipes her daughters forehead with a damp cloth. Yesterday, she had a bed, today shes back on the floor. We keep moving from bed to floor, from one ward to another. Its humiliating and painful, but what choice do we have, she said. Doctors, visibly exhausted, try their best to cope. We are treating over 300 outpatients a day, and in some cases, close to 1,000, not counting emergency cases, said a senior resident who requested anonymity. There simply isnt enough staff or space. Sometimes, we have to check patients sitting on the floor because theres no place to even stand. The hospital, which caters to patients from five northern districts, has long been plagued by severe staff shortages. Out of 393 sanctioned doctor posts, 61 remain vacant. In the medicine department alone, five assistant professor posts and three senior resident positions are unfilled. Nurses too are stretched beyond limits, caring for up to 50 patients each, a ratio compared to the ideal 1:4 standard. Health activists say the situation exposes deep cracks in the states public health claims.The government keeps boasting about Keralas healthcare model, said social activist N P Pramod. But when patients are lying on the floor of a medical college hospital in 2025, its clear the system is collapsing from neglect. The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has repeatedly questioned the authorities for inhumane conditions, yet little has changed. We issued directives months ago, said a commission official. But the ground reality remains the same -- overcrowding, lack of beds, staff shortage, and patients suffering in silence. Hospital officials admit to challenges The shortage worsened after the 2019 batch of house surgeons completed their term, said a senior hospital administrator. We are in the process of appointing non-academic junior residents to fill the gap, but only a few have joined so far. Recent mishaps have added to the chaos. A few months ago, a fire in the MRI units UPS room and another in an operating theatre forced temporary evacuation of patients. They were crammed into older wards, adding to the overcrowding. For nearly three months, we shared space with double the number of patients, said a nurse. Even basic care became impossible. Now, at least the Super Speciality block of the MCH looks pretty decent with patients being treated as humans, said a bystander there. Recently, members of the Kerala NGO Union, Government Nurses Association, and the Government Officers Association formed a human chain around the campus, protesting what they called an attempt to weaken the public health sector. Crisis inside MCH Overcrowded wards Patients lying side by side on floors and verandas Saline bottles tied to window grills and wall nails Up to 3 patients sharing one bed in some wards

Indian teen falls to death from building while taking photos in Dubai

Dubai: A 19-year-old Indian boy from Kerala has reportedly died after falling from the top of a residential building in Deira, Dubai, while taking photographs of planes. The victim, Mohammed Mishal from Velliparamba in Kozhikode, was on a visit visa and had been staying with his cousins for about two weeks. He was the only Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Collector orders attachment of assets of investment firm in Kozhikode

Local body polls: Fronts in final stages of selection of candidates in Kozhikode

LDF expected to announce its candidates list on Thursday

Delhi blast: Police step up inspections in Keralas Kozhikode district

Police are conducting random inspections with the support of bomb detection and disposal squads as part of the heightened surveillance measures in Kerala

CAT admit card 2025 released: Download from iimcat.ac.in for November 30 exam

CAT admit card 2025: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode has released the CAT admit card 2025 on iimcat.ac.in. The exam will be held on November 30 across 170 cities in three shifts. Over 2.95 lakh candidates are registered. The admit card contains essential details including name, photo, roll number, exam centre, and timings. Candidates must carry a valid photo ID and follow instructions. A mock test is available on the official website to familiarise candidates.

CAT Admit Card 2025 today: Check how to download hall ticket from iimcat.ac.in and other other guidelines

CAT 2025 Admit Card at iimcat.ac.in: The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode is releasing the CAT 2025 admit card today. Candidates can download their hall tickets from iimcat.ac.in. The Common Admission Test is scheduled for November 30. This exam is crucial for admission to top management programmes. The admit card contains important details like exam slot and centre.

Election Page | Mayors not in fray in civic polls, but may have a larger political responsibility awaiting them

Kozhikode Mayor Beena Philip and Kochi Mayor M. Anilkumar express a desire to return to organisational roles in their parties, while Thrissur Mayor M.K. Varghese hints at political ambitions. Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran also appears to be primed for a larger political assignment

CAT 2025 BIG UPDATE: Admit card likely to be released today at iimcat.ac.in; Check full schedule, other details

IIM Kozhikode has released the CAT 2025 admit card today. Candidates can download it from iimcat.ac.in using their user ID and password. The CAT 2025 exam will be held on November 30 across 170 cities. The admit card includes exam date, centre details, and important instructions.

CAT 2025 admit card releasing today at iimcat.ac.in: Check login details, exam slots, and guidelines

IIM Kozhikode is releasing the CAT 2025 admit card today, November 12, 2025, on iimcat.ac.in. This crucial document is mandatory for the highly competitive MBA entrance exam scheduled for November 30, 2025. Candidates must download and verify their hall tickets promptly, ensuring all details are accurate before the exam day.

BJP publishes first list of candidates for Kozhikode Corporation

CAT 2025 admit card to be released on this date: Check where and how to download IIM hall ticket

IIM Kozhikode releases CAT 2025 admit cards tomorrow, November 12th, for the exam on November 30th. Candidates can download their hall tickets from iimcat.ac.in. A mock test is also scheduled for November 12th to help aspirants prepare. The admit card contains crucial details; ensure all information is accurate and carry a printout with valid ID to the exam centre.

Kerala local body polls 2025: Congress, CMP announce candidates for Kozhikode Corporation

Congress announces 22 of its 49 candidates to contest in various divisions of Kozhikode Corporation, while CMP announces its two candidates. CPI(M)s list expected on November 12

Kerala local body elections 2025 to be held in two phases on December 9 and 11; counting on December 13

Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha and Ernakulam will go to polls on December 9. Thrissur, Malappuram, Wayanad, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kannur and Kozhikode on December 11

Littering mars Kozhikode beach food street soon after opening

Videos of garbage piling up went viral a day after launch, with Corporation officials attributing the mess to a lack of civic sense among visitors despite adequate waste management measures

IMA State conference begins in Kozhikode

Amoebic meningoencephalitis: study on host risk factors initiated

Health department and ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology begins case control study with 66 recent cases being chosen from Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam

Nod for incubation lab at KINFRA Knowledge Park in Kozhikode

Factory row to heat up poll battle in four panchayats in Kozhikode

Emergency life support training launched for police officers in Kozhikode

Local body polls: UDF completes seat-sharing in Kozhikode Corporation

Kerala local body polls: UDF finalises seat-sharing in Kozhikode Corporation

Of the 76 divisions in the Corporation, the Congress will contest in 49, while IUML will contest in 25. Communist Marxist Party will contest in two divisions

No concrete step to ensure safety of health workers in Kerala, say IMA functionaries

The State conference of the association will be held in Kozhikode from November 8

Kozhikode must enhance infra to become top tier-two city

IIM CAT 2025 admit card was not released on 5th November as scheduled: When will it be out?

The IIM CAT 2025 admit card was not released on 5 November as scheduled, disappointing over 2.95 lakh registered candidates. IIM Kozhikode clarified that admit cards will now be available from 12 to 30 November 2025 on the official CAT website. The exam will be held on 30 November across three sessions and 170 cities. Enhanced security measures, including mobile jammers, are in place. Candidates can also access the revised mock test from 12 November to familiarise themselves with the exam interface.

Uproar in Kozhikode Corporation Council over appointment of temporary sanitation workers

Congress to contest in 14 divisions in Kozhikode district panchayat

How a school helped its students develop hygiene, safety habits

When teachers at Government Upper Primary School, Manassery, in Kozhikode found that many children were coming to school without even brushing their teeth, they started a Habit lab to instil good habits in them

Pact signed to rejuvenate Mampuzha river in Kozhikode

Manavamaitri Sangamam in Kozhikode on Nov. 4

Amoebic fever: ICMR-NIE team completes field visits in Kozhikode

Kozhikode police to roll out new traffic master plan

Migrant worker dies as wall collapses in Kozhikode

The two others, who sustained minor injuries, are undergoing treatment at the hospital

Kozhikode Corporation Council demands Election Commission to withhold SIR

The motion was unanimously supported by the UDF and LDF councillors, while the six BJP councillors opposed it