The New Indian Express News

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) emerged victorious as the counting of votes for the 2025 Kerala local body elections concluded on Saturday. UDF made a comeback in Alappuzha district, showcasing a thumping victory over the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), signalling a significant turnaround from the 2020 results. The IUML-led United Democratic Front (UDF) tightened its political dominance in Malappuram and won an overwhelming majority of local bodies. Despite deep internal confl

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan attributed the United Democratic Fronts (UDF) victory in the local body elections to strong anti-incumbency sentiments and the CPMs shift toward majority appeasement. He argued that the CPM had adopted the communal agenda of the BJP, which ultimately benefited the latter, particularly in Thiruvananthapuram. Before the parliamentary elections, the CPM pursued minority appeasement, only to later switch to majority appeasement. UDF had consistent

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has captured the Pandalam municipality, ending the National Democratic Alliances (NDA) control, in a significant political shift in central Pathanamthitta. Of the 34 wards, the LDF won 14 seats, the United Democratic Front (UDF) secured 11, while the NDA was reduced to nine. In another setback for the BJP, the party also lost power in neighbouring Kulanada panchayat, where it had been in control for the past 15 years. Here, the LDF won eight wards,

PALAKKAD: With no political front securing a clear majority in the Palakkad municipality, post-poll negotiations have swiftly moved from informal exchanges to structured political engagement. Senior party leaders and local functionaries across fronts confirm that exploratory talks are underway between the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to forge a tactical understandingon the lines of an INDIA-bloc-style coordination at the civic levelto prevent the BJP-led Nati

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress-led United Democratic Front showcased a thumping victory in both rural and urban civic bodies, as the counting of votes for the 2025 Kerala local body elections came to a close. The UDF has won in four out of six corporations: Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, and Kannur. The LDF retained Kozhikode, whereas the NDA has wrested Thiruvananthapuram from LDF. The UDF also won 59 district panchayats, 1063 block panchayats, and 7451 grama panchayats; the LDF won 30 district pan

Vyshna SL, the Congress candidate from Muttada division of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, won with a margin of over 300 votes in the local body polls. She had to move the Kerala High Court to reinstate her name in the electoral roll. Vyshna had approached the Kerala HC after getting a notice from the State Election Commission (SEC) informing that her name had been removed from the voters' list. Subsequently, the High Court ordered the SEC to reexamine her claim. Thereafter, the SEC conducte

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Startup festival Huddle Global 2025, organised by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), began at Kovalam here on Friday. The three-day event offers vast opportunities for startups, including funding and mentor support. An expo of innovative products and an all-India hackathon are among the highlights. Addressing the opening session, Finance Minister K N Balagopal said the global landscape is transforming with rapid digitalisation through domains like AI, automation and shipping supp

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With stray dog management remaining a persistent challenge in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram corporation is planning to adopt the Greater Chennai Corporations model of an exclusive animal birth control (ABC) centre-cum-multispeciality veterinary hospital. The proposal comes amid rising concerns over public safety and growing rabies cases, with 21 confirmed infections being reported within the corporation limits between January and December this year. The civic body is

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A total of 16 counting centres have been set up across Thiruvananthapuram district for the upcoming local body elections, covering the corporation, municipalities and block panchayats. The counting for the Thiruvananthapuram corporation will take place at Mar Ivanios College. Votes from wards 1 to 26 and 27 to 51 will be counted in two sections on the ground floor hall located between the St. George Building and the Little Flower Block of Sarvodaya Vidyalaya. Counting for war

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: UK policies during the British Mandate directly paved the way for the displacement of Palestinians and the entrenchment of Zionist settler presence, Palestine Ambassador to India Abdulla M Abu Shawesh said at the opening of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) on Friday. Speaking ahead of the screening of Palestine 36, he described the film as a window into a history that Palestinians were long denied the platform to narrate. Shawesh said the Balfour Declaration o

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has directed the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and Digital University Kerala (DUK) to foot the bill equally for expenses incurred to the tune of Rs 31.20 lakh for shortlisting of vice chancellor probables in both universities by a Supreme Court-appointed search committee. Of this, Rs 18 lakh is the honorarium to Justice (Retd) Sudhanshu Dhulia who headed the panel. The panel had conducted interviews of VC candidates in the two universitie

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Honouring the resilience of the survivor in the actor abduction case, the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) opened in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday with a message of solidarity. Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian declared that the festival stands with the survivor in the 2017 actor assault case, reiterating that Kerala and the state government will remain with her throughout her fight for justice. Addressing a packed audience at the Nishagandhi Auditorium,

KOCHI: At a time when art is used to incite hatred, riots and genocide, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale should be able to prepare the ground to combat it, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while inaugurating the sixth edition of the Kochi Biennale at the Fort Kochi Parade Ground on Friday. The chief minister inaugurated the event by lighting a lamp made specially out of tender coconut fronds. The chief minsiter said that the current trend is to give national recognition to organised efforts to sho

KOCHI: Declaring that the trial courts verdict in the actor abduction and assault case represents not just a setback but a failure to treat a grave crime with the seriousness it warranted, the prosecution and the survivors counsel said the judgment amounted to a stark denial of justice. Minutes after the court sentenced all six accused, including the prime accused, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, special public prosecutor V Ajakumar described the ruling as deeply disappointing and one that

KOCHI: Though relieved that the trial court imposed the minimum sentence prescribed for the gang-rape charge 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in the actor abduction case, the counsels for the accused indicated plans to appeal before higher courts. Their pointed to the possibility of the punishment getting reduced further, as the period the accused spent in custody during the trial will be set off against total sentence. According to Pratheesh Kurup, counsel for prime accused Sunil N S, aka Pu

KOCHI: While acquitting actor Dileep in the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case, the trial court observed that the first accused Pulsar Suni had initially claimed that the quotation for the crime came from a madam, and the prosecution was duty-bound to investigate that angle. The order, accessed by TNIE , stated that Suni had first claimed the quotation originated from a woman but later changed his version and alleged that it was at the instance of actor Dileep. If this be the situation

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Kerala High Courts finding that over 400 acres of land in Munambam in Ernakulam district is not waqf property and ordered status quo on the dispute over the holdings of over 600 families. A two-judge bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, however, clarified that it has not stayed the inquiry by the C N Ramachandran Nair commission. The bench issued notice to the Kerala government while hearing a plea fil

KOCHI: Over eight years after the chilling actor abduction and rape shook Kerala, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court witnessed another emotionally charged day on Friday though without the overwhelming frenzy that had gripped it on Monday. Earlier in the week, the entire state waited with bated breath to see whether actor Dileep would be convicted. But on Friday, with the spotlight turning to the sentencing of the six found guilty, a smaller but steady crowd gathered still tense, still angr

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Clouded for months by sexual assault allegations involving expelled MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, Keralas political climate is set for a decisive shift as the local body election results roll in on Saturday. For the LDF which has enjoyed close to a decade in power, the numbers will be unforgiving. Any slide in corporations, district panchayats, municipalities and grama panchayats will be read either as a verdict on its governance record or a clear sign of anti-incumbency. The resul

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keralas local body election delivered a sobering statistic. The state logged its lowest voter turnout in two decades, slipping to 73.69%, down 2.26 percentage points from the previous poll in 2020 -- which was held nine months after the Covid outbreak was declared a global pandemic. In line with long-standing trends, the seven northern districts once again outperformed the south, drawing over five percentage points more voters to polling booths from Thrissur to Kasaragod. An

KOCHI: If you are in Canada and happen to come across Malayalam songs while surfing the channels on your radio, dont be surprised. For thats Madhurageetham 101.3 FM, a channel born out of the founders desire to provide a platform that would give a voice to the Malayali diaspora in the North American country. Vijay Sethumadavan and Mridula Menon, who hail from Palakkad, launched the channel in 2004. When we arrived in Canada, we saw that though the Malayali expat community was growing, it lacked

KOCHI: Holding that the 2017 actor abduction and rape case did not warrant the maximum sentence, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Friday sentenced all six convicts, including Pulsar Suni, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs50,000 each the minimum punishment for gang rape. The court slapped another 20-year RI and Rs 50,000 fine each for the criminal conspiracy carried out to commit the crime. Judge Honey M Varghese stated both sentences will run concurrently, m

6th Avenue in Anna Nagar, Chennai. A pale November evening. The room glows softly; chairs lie scattered; someone tunes a guitar, someone adjusts a mic. From the faint ripple of human chatter, a lone voice rises. A gentle hum follows from the rear of the room, and soon several voices begin to sing. Many pick up the same lines imperfect, but wholly invested. The spirit lifts with the music. Welcome to a jam session. Here, music doesnt merely fill a space it stirs a quiet sense of belonging. Here

KOCHI: In a significant setback for the prosecution, the Ernakulam District and Sessions Court on Friday sentenced all six convicts, including prime accused Pulsar Suni, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in the 2017 actor abduction and rape case. The prosecution had strongly argued for life imprisonment for all the accused, particularly Suni, but the court held that this was not a case warranting the maximum sentence. All six convicts will now be shifted to Viyyur Central Jail in Thrissur. De

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kollam Vigilance court has turned down the bail plea of former Travancore Devaswom Board president and ex-MLA A Padmakumar , who has been arrested in the Sabarimala gold theft case . A former MLA from Konni and CPM Pathanamthitta district committee member, Padmakumar was arrested on November 20 by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the theft of gold from the door frames of the sanctum sanctorum. Padmakumars counsel argued that his custody was no longe

KOCHI: The verdict on the quantum of punishment for the six convicted men will be pronounced at 3:30 pm, following intense arguments from both the prosecution and defence earlier in the day. Tense and emotional scenes unfolded at the Ernakulam District and Sessions Court on Friday as the trial court prepared to deliver its judgment in the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case. The long-running trial saw multiple rounds of evidence, witness statements, and legal challenges before the court

PALAKKAD: The residents association of Builtech Summit Apartments, Kunnathurmedu, has handed over a formal notice directing MLA Rahul Mamkootathil to vacate his rented flat by December 25, citing persistent inconvenience caused to other occupants. The decision was taken at a residents meeting held the other day, and the notice has already been served to the MLAs assistants. The MLA has reportedly agreed to comply and will soon begin moving out his belongings. Rahul took the flat on rent during t

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The massive Rs 495-crore redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station, the principal hub of the capital city, is advancing at a rapid pace. Comprehensive development activities are in progress to transform the station with a modern architectural design and upgraded passenger-friendly facilities. The major works have been divided into two distinct segments, the construction of the north block at the Thampanoor side and the south block at the Power House Road sid

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command Marshal Manish Khanna on Thursday visited the Technopark and interacted with industry leaders and startups with a focused interest in the defence and aerospace sectors. Technopark CEO Col Sanjeev Nair (Retd) received Air Marshal Manish Khanna and presented an overview of the states IT sector and about the Kerala Defence Innovation Zone (K-DIZ). Kerala stands as Indias most digitally empowered state where a thriving startup

KOCHI/BRAUNSCHWEIG: A new Indo-German study has offered some of the clearest proof yet that when the gut falls out of balance, the brain suffers too especially our ability to learn and remember. Published in the journal BMC Biology, the research shows how long-term antibiotic use, unhealthy diets, stress and poor sleep can disturb the gut microbiome, setting off an inflammatory chain reaction that eventually reaches the brain. The study was led by Dr Baby Chakrapani P S of the Centre of Excelle

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Retelling the rich legacy of endless love for cinema, the 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will begin on Friday with 11 films. Making a bold political statement, Palestine 36 , directed by Ameenah Jaleel, will be screened as the inaugural film at the Nishagandhi Open Theatre at 6pm. The World Cinema category will also be launched on Friday, with the screening of Emmanuel Finkiels Marianas Room, Erkan Yazicis Fragments from the East, and Thomas

PATHANAMTHITTA: After the heavy footfall witnessed on Monday and Tuesday, Sabarimala recorded a marginal decline in the devotee turnout on Wednesday, with 74,928 pilgrims offering darshan at the hill shrine. Thursday also saw a moderate flow of devotees. With this, the total number of pilgrims who have visited the hill shrine during the Mandalam season has crossed 20 lakh. A large share of the pilgrims arrived over the past two days was from other states, and nearly 30,000 devotees had completed

KOCHI: The countrys only biennale, a spectacular showpiece of Asias largest contemporary art event, is poised to enter its sixth edition, promising expansive and immersive art experiences for nearly four months from Friday by turning the Kerala port city into a site for dialogues around emerging global perspectives. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) will feature 22 venues besides seven collaterals, significantly widening the socio-historical as well as political footprints of Indias new-age art e

KOCHI: The prosecution is set to seek three life terms for accused numbers one to six, who were convicted in the 2017 actor abduction case, with the Ernakulam Principal and Sessions Judge scheduled to conduct the sentencing hearing and pronounce the quantum of punishment on Friday. On December 8, the trial court found the first six accused, Sunil aka Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh V P, Salim H aka Vadival Salim, and Pradeep guilty. The court acquitted actor Dileep, stating that

KOZHIKODE: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan succeeded in setting the agenda for discussion on the second phase of polling to local bodies on Thursday by shifting the whole focus to the Rahul Mamkootathil issue and thereby diverting attention from all other issues the opposition wanted to raise. What are these womanisers in the Congress doing? Why were the survivor women not ready to come forward with complaints. This should be viewed seriously. There were threats that they would be killed. The vi

BENGALURU: A 22-year-old MBA student from Kerala has died by suicide leaving behind a death note mentioning three mobile phone numbers and details of a bank account.The deceased has been identified as Jagan Mohanan, a second year MBA student at a private college in Soladevanahalli. He was a native of Vadakara in Kozhikode district. The reasons behind the suicide are yet to be ascertained. The police suspect that the student must have taken the extreme step following blackmail and threats from un

MALAPPURAM: At 75, most candidates prefer to stay anchored at their base camp on polling day. But in Ponmundam, BJPs Malappuram district panchayat candidate Ali Haji was anything but still. From the moment voting began, he was on the move walking briskly between booths, checking turnout, greeting familiar faces and offering quick reminders to voters he spotted along the way. By mid-morning, he had covered several booths. By afternoon, he seemed to be everywhere. Wearing his trademark smile, Ali

CHOORALMALA: For the hundreds displaced by the devastating Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides, the local body election on Thursday was less about political mandate and more about a desperate, heartfelt reunion. As the community, scattered across districts and state borders, returned to cast their votes, the polling booths became tearful meeting points for old neighbours who had lost everything. To facilitate the voting process for the displaced community, the district administration arranged eight

KANNUR: While most of Kannur was immersed in the intensity of election day, the cantonment area of Kannur corporation remained on the sidelines, watching the flurry of activities from a distance. For, the residents of cantonment area of the corporation have not participated in a local election since 2015, the year the last Cantonment Board polls were held. As the rest of the district engaged in the democratic exercise, people in the regions could only observe the excitement around them. The cant

KOZHIKODE: Early morning, while at her home in Eravattur, 109-year-old Manikkoth Omana Amma had only one concern: When will you take me to vote? Her simple but firm question set the stage for one of the most touching moments this election day. Despite her age and frailty, Omana Amma was determined not to miss her chance to vote. By 3:45pm, she was on her way to booth number 2 in ward 18 of Perambra panchayat, travelling in an autorickshaw with her family and neighbours. The journey wasnt easy fo

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A series of houseboat accidents across Alappuzha and Kottayam districts has triggered concerns over tourist safety and exposed serious regulatory lapses in Keralas iconic backwater tourism sector. On Wednesday, a family of four miraculously escaped after the houseboat they were staying in capsized at Kumarakom. All occupants were rescued safely. Experts are calling for urgent government intervention to curb illegal operators, enforce compliance, and strengthen safety protocol

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As curtains for the International Film Festival of Kerala set to rise on Friday, top-guns are set to give the prestigious 30th edition a miss. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and state Chalachithra Academy chairperson Resul Pookutty will not attend the inaugural event, to be held at the capitals Nisagandhi auditorium in the evening. The noticeable absence of Resul Pookutty from the international festival has already triggered discussions within film circles. Despite this bein

PALAKKAD: In a dramatic end to weeks of political turbulence, expelled Congress Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil who vanished from public view soon after a woman approached the Chief Minister on November 27 with a sexual harassment complaint surfaced briefly on Thursday evening to cast his vote in the second phase of the local body elections . Mamkootathil appeared at St. Sebastians School in Kunnathurmedu North (ward 24) around 4.50 pm, choosing the near-empty final hour of polling to avoid pu

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha witnessed a protest during the Zero Hour on Thursday by the CPI(M) over allegations of spurious and substandard medicines in Kerala. The protest began when Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisham launched a blistering attack on Keralas drugs control department, claiming that recent raids across the state had exposed the widespread availability of counterfeit and poor-quality medicines. As soon as Congress MP Hisham made her allegations, CPI(M) MP John Brittas and others sharply

NEW DELHI: Noting the continuous deadlock between the Kerala chief minister and the governor, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked a committee headed by Justice (retd) Sudhanshu Dhulia to recommend one name each for appointing vice chancellors in two technical universities. The top court was hearing the matter related to the appointments of VCs of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology. A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An overall voter turnout of 63.8% was recorded at 3 pm in the second phase of the local body polls in seven northern districts of the state. Electors are choosing representatives to three tier panchayats in rural areas as well as municipalities and corporations in urban areas. The districts in which polling is being held in the second phase are: Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. Voting is being held in 18,274 polling stations from 7 am

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The second phase of polling in the crucial local body elections commenced in seven districts of Kerala on Thursday morning with the turnout crossing 8 per cent in the first two hours of voting. Voters began casting ballots from 7 am at the 18,274 polling stations in the districts of Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. Polling will conclude at 6 pm. People of all ages and professions, including political leaders, queued up at polling stati

KOLLAM: Three people died after the autorickshaw in which they were travelling collided with a bus at Anchal in the wee hours of Thursday, police said. The deceased were identified as Akshay (23), Jyothi Lakshmi (21) and Sruthy Lakshmi (16), all residents of Karavaloor. According to police, the autorickshaw driven by Akshay lost control and hit a bus carrying Lord Ayyappa devotees from Andhra Pradesh. The devotees were returning after their Sabarimala pilgrimage when the accident occurred around

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The trial court verdict in the actor assault case has sparked widespread debate across the state amid calls for solidarity with the survivor. On Wednesday, people from various walks of life gathered at Manaveeyam Veedhi in Thiruvananthapuram to express support to the survivors long fight for justice. A solidarity meeting, under the banner #Avalkoppam (With Her), held there in the evening had cultural figures, social activists and students in attendance. CPI state secretary Bi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A major fire broke out at a resort on the North Cliff in Varkala on Wednesday, partially destroying the structure and triggering panic among tourists and local residents. The blaze was reported around 1.56pm at Calaila Boutique Stay. No casualties were reported, and all guests staying at the resort managed to escape unhurt. Fire and Rescue Services personnel rushed to the spot, but the fire tender could not be brought to the site due to the narrow access route. A fire personn