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KOTTAYAM: At the peak of a crucial local body election campaign, the discord among senior Congress leaders over suspended Youth Congress leader Rahul Mamkootathil has placed the UDF in a challenging situation. As electioneering heats up, concerns are mounting among second-tier and grassroot-level party leaders that conflicting statements from senior leaders could backfire in the elections. They argue that while the door-to-door campaign is progressing across the state, the perceived disunity amo

KOCHI: For the people of Munambam, the past four years were nothing short of a waking nightmare. Life turned upside down in 2019 when, without warning, the Kerala Waqf Board formally registered their land as waqf property. The move went unnoticed for months. COVID lockdowns muted all government transactions. People continued living in their homes, unaware that the ground beneath them had quietly been marked as someone elses. Then came 2021 the year the earth slipped from under their feet. When

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following a complaint by the Aam Aadmi Party candidate, the BJP has started removing the IPS tag from the campaign posters of its star candidate, former DGP R Sreelekha, in Thiruvananthapuram corporation. Contesting from the same ward Sasthamangalam as Sreelekha, AAPs Reshmi T S raised the issue of the IPS tag with the returning officer on Tuesday morning. While clarifying that she did not receive any intimation from the authorities, Sreelekha said she was unaware of any le

KASARGOD: In the local body elections of 2020, the LDF wrested power in 19 of the 39 panchayats in Kasaragod district, while the UDF assumed office in 15 and the BJP in three. Curiously, Manjeshwar panchayat landed in the hands of independent candidates, even as the BJP and the IUML were expected to fight tooth and nail to win the local body. The incumbent panchayat president Gean Lavina Monteiro won as an independent from Guddekeri with the support of the UDF while the vice-president, Mohammad

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an innovative move, the BJP on Wednesday began distributing voter slips featuring two QR codes -- each designed to offer voters a more interactive and technology-driven election experience -- in many wards in Thiruvananthapuram corporation. Scanning the first QR code directs voters to a video message from BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, stating that the party will unveil a comprehensive development plan for Thiruvananthapuram city within 45 days of assuming offic

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold theft case has recorded the statements of Sabarimala priests Kandararu Mohanararu and Kandararu Rajeevararu. The two were questioned about their role in moving the gold-coated copper sheets from the temple premises to outside. They told the SIT that they had no role in deciding to send the gold sheets to Chennai for repair. That decision, they said, was made by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), and they were

KOLLAM: The Vigilance Court here on Wednesday sent former Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar to the custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged misappropriation of gold-plated artefacts meant for Sabarimala. He will remain in SIT custody till 5 pm on Thursday. The prosecution sought his custody, stating that crucial information still needed to be extracted from him. The SIT also informed the court that the investigation report would soon be submitted to the

KOCHI: In a major relief to the residents of Munambam, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday granted temporary restoration of their revenue rights, ending more than 410 days of uncertainty and agitation. A single bench of Justice C Jayachandran directed the state government to accept land tax from the 610 affected families until the court delivers its final verdict in the long-running dispute over the lands status. The order was issued while hearing a batch of petitions, including one by the Munamb

As Kochi evolves, so does its appetite for newer expressions. True to that, now the city is set to host a unique artistic movement with the debut of the Movement Festival of Kerala (MOFK), an exciting celebration of contemporary and experimental dance. Curated by dancer-choreographers Paris Laxmi, Sreejith P and Abhi V S under their collective Boho, MFOK will mark the first major event presenting contemporary movement alongside reimagined classical forms. Co-curator Laxmi says the festival hopes

Community, for Ananthapadmanabhan V, was a concept he became familiar with very early in life by watching his mother. When they were in Dubai, she was involved in different community activities, helping women in difficult situations return home, supporting small charities for animals, and organising simple fundraising events like school bake sales. He often assisted her in these efforts, and over time, this exposure influenced how he viewed people, support systems, and collective responsibility.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police are still searching for the knife used to stab Alan to death during a clash that followed a dispute at a football match in Thycaud. The investigation has slowed down because the accused have repeatedly changed their statements about where they dumped the weapon. Recovering the murder weapon remains a major challenge for the team.ed initially told the police that they had thrown the knife into the sea near Azhimala in Vizhinjam. Based on this, police carried out a searc

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pointing out that nearly 3,000 officers of the forest department have been deployed in remote forest areas as part of the nationwide tiger census, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam on Tuesday said the voting rights of these employees should be ensured for the upcoming local body elections. Adding that it is both democratic and reasonable to reschedule the census dates, he stated that he has written to the State Election Commissioner and the Forest Department head regarding the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Youth Congress state general secretary Sajana B Sajan has demanded the ouster of discredited MLA Rahul Mamkootathil from the primary membership of Congress party. Responding to CPM allegations, she said that this is not the time for ordinary Congress workers to defend Rahul. Rahul Mamkootathil is not the problem, his mindset is the real issue, Sajana, who is also a KPCC member, said. Who wants to protect him now? Though the accused has the protection of any top leader, if the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior BJP leader S Suresh said in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday that the NDA front has registered its strongest-ever presence in the upcoming local body elections, fielding 21,065 candidates across Kerala, including independents backed by BJP-NDA. According to him, the NDA front is contesting 89.5% of all seats in the state. Suresh said that 19,871 candidates are contesting on the BJPs lotus symbol, making it the symbol with the highest number of candidates in the 2025 polls

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The NIA Special Court, Ernakulam, has warned that the malfunctioning CCTV cameras at the High Security Prison, Viyyur, are a matter of concern, and may pose serious problems. The court sharply criticised Keralas prison administration after it emerged that only one out of 165 CCTV cameras have recording facilities. A report by the assistant engineer, PWD Electronics wing, Thrissur, claimed that only nine CCTV cameras are currently functional. However, the superintendents repor

KANNUR: Two CPM workers, including the LDF candidate at Mattammal division in Payyannur in the LSG election, have been sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined Rs 2.5 lakh each after being found guilty in a decade-old bomb attack case. Nandakumar T C V, and V K Nishad, both 35 years old, were convicted for hurling a bomb at a police team near Madathumpadi Junction road in Payyanur in August 2012. The Taliparamba Additional Sessions Court pronounced the sentence following their conviction on Mon

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Kerala government to establish state-run lower and upper primary schools in all areas where none are functioning. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act mandates access to neighbourhood schooling for every child, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed. The bench was hearing the appeal of the state government against the High Court order on a petition that sought setting up of a school in

PATHANAMTHITTA: The CPM is unlikely to initiate any immediate disciplinary action against former TDB president and party district committee member A Padmakumar, who was recently arrested in the Sabarimala gold theft case. According to party sources, CPM state secretary M V Govindan made it clear during the Pathanamthitta district committee meeting on Tuesday that any strong action would only follow the submission of the chargesheet. Those who were entrusted with responsibilities failed to uphold

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 leaders

ALAPPUZHA: The new generation is largely unaware of how voting and counting once took place in the country. For decades, elections were conducted using long ballot papers printed with the names and symbols of candidates. Voters would mark their choice, fold the paper, and drop it into a sealed box. After voting concluded, polling officers sealed the box using sealing wax, and the boxes were stored securely, The counting, often stretching one or two days, began several days later. On counting day

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP has pushed the performance of its statewide help desks to the forefront of its election messaging, making it one of the main topics in the current campaign. Senior leaders, including state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, have recently begun highlighting that the party resolved nearly 38,000 petitions through its Vikasitha Bharat help desks launched in June. According to party leaders, the help desk initiative has now become a central narrative in campaign speeches, es

KOCHI: Caught between the remnants of royal heritage and the challenges of democracy, Tripunithura has been craving for development for decades. Narrow roads, traffic snarl ups, drinking water scarcity and lack of proper waste disposal plans add to the woes of the town, which was once the capital of the princely state of Kochi. After the formation of Tripunithura municipality in 1980, the CPM-led LDF ruled for three decades until the UDF wrested power in 2010. The CPM returned to power in 2015 a

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 t

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has written to the Centre seeking urgent disbursal of pending funds under the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) project, especially those relating to implementation of the Right To Education (RTE) Act and assistance for differently-abled children. General Education Minister V Sivankutty said that of the Rs 1,158 crore of pending Central funds under SSK, Rs 408 crore relates to various services under the RTE Act and assistance for differently-abled students. He

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 t

KOCHI: Murals depicting the landmarks in Indias maritime history right from the Indus Valley Civilisation to the modern day will adorn the walls of the Kochi Naval Base. The Better Kochi Response Group (BKRG), has launched an initiative to create a 1.3-km-long mural wall that will chronologically depict Indias expansive maritime history. Once completed, it will be the longest mural in the country, and the project will be submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records for consideration, said BKR

KOCHI: In a significant relief for commuters battling acute traffic congestion, the first of seven major bridges along the 26-km Edappally-Moothakunnam stretch of NH 66 is scheduled to be opened to traffic in the first week of December. The key structure new Varappuzha bridge promises to significantly ease the bottleneck caused by vehicles plying in both directions on the old bridge. The 1.03-km-long new bridge was constructed in a record 604 days at a cost of Rs 100 crore by Oriental Structur

Long before he became one of the most recognisable comedy voices, Abish Mathew was a radio jockey in Delhi a young man with an instinct for humour. From there came the YouTube hits, comedy clubs, the specials, the tours, Comicstaan, Son of Abish, improv sets, sketch videos, and an evolving stage persona that refuses to sit still. Abish has never been just a stand-up; he is a host, writer, performer and creator who is constantly evolving. He recently brought his latest set, Abish Mathew and His

KOCHI: The inclusion of a Bharat Mata image at a National Law Day programme held on the Kerala High Court premises has triggered strong protests from the All India Lawyers Union (AILU), even as Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who attended the event, reignited the debate by alleging that resistance to the symbol reflects a form of modern untouchability and a degradation of Indias cultural ethos. The Sangh Parivar organised the programme, affiliated Bharatheeya Abhibhashaka Parishad and atte

KOCHI: A new doctoral study has made two sharp observations on Kerala: Housewives must be recognised as part of the toiling class, and receiving a LIFE Mission housewhile socially empoweringdoes not significantly deepen a womans personal transformation. The research, authored by Nisha Jose, wife of Kerala Congress (M) chairman Jose K. Mani, argues that the States welfare architecture, although strong in infrastructure and allocations, still struggles to translate material gains into psychologica

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Government has objected to a proposal from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) - Kerala seeking to utilise the services of school children for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In a statement, General Education Minister V Sivankutty said deploying volunteers of National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) from schools would disrupt their studies. The Minister said academic activities were going ahead in full sw

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Befitting the popular adage that a Malayali can be found in every corner of the world, UK-based Malayali arrack brand 'Manavatty' was the star of the Scotland National Party (SNP) convention held ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections in Edinburgh. The Manavatty bottles, co-signed by the first minister of Scotland John Swinney and the brand founder John Xavier, were sold at attractive prices after a tight auction held here for the party's candidate adoption and fundraising

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 28-year-old man who had been undergoing treatment after being assaulted by his father during an argument over a luxury bike worth Rs 50 lakh died on Monday. Hriddhik, a resident of Pournami, Kunnumpuram in Vanchiyoor, succumbed to his injuries at the Medical College Hospital on Monday morning. Police had earlier registered an attempt-to-murder case against his father, Vinayanandan, who was later released on bail. With Hriddhiks death, the charge will now be altered to murde

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With scrutiny of nominations completed on Monday, a full picture of the electoral contests to the Thiruvananthapuram corporation council has become clear and the two leading fronts are grappling with a surge in rebel candidates. Even senior leaders have entered the fray as independents, placing the LDF and the UDF in a tight spot ahead of the polls. In a contrast to previous elections, the LDF is facing serious internal rebellion this time. None of the LDF rebels withdrew th

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Wild boar attacks are surging across the state, with culling operations coming to a complete halt following the declaration of local body elections. Farmers and residents in vulnerable regions are bearing the brunt as district collectors have directed all licenced firearm holders to deposit their weapons at police stations an order that contradicts the Election Commission guidelines. According to the Commissions circular, only specific categories of licence holders are requi

PATHANAMTHITTA: With the Mandala-Makaravilakku season witnessing a steady rise in pilgrim inflow, authorities have limited spot booking for darshan at 5,000 for Tuesday, even as the total footfall at Sabarimala crossed 7.5 lakh by Monday evening. Authorities also confirmed that the virtual queue booking will allow darshan access for up to 70,000 pilgrims. Despite a surge in pilgrim turnout, smooth darshan continued at the hill shrine on Monday, the ninth day of the annual pilgrim season. A total

KOTTAYAM: A 23-year-old youth was stabbed to death following a dispute over a drug deal at Manikunnam near Kottayam in the early hours of Monday. The deceased is Adarsh, a native of Manganam near Puthuppally. Abhijith, 24, of Kottayam and son of Congress leader and former Kottayam municipal councillor V K Anilkumar (Titto), was taken into custody by the police in connection with the incident. The incident took place in front of Anilkumars house around 4.30am. Police said the violence stemmed fro

KANNUR: With the completion of the final scrutiny of nominations in Kannur, the LDF has secured uncontested victories in 14 wards across the district. The presiding officers have rejected a total of four nominations, two from Anthoor municipality, both filed by UDF candidates, and two from Kannapuram panchayat, one each from the UDF and the BJP rendering the CPM unopposed. LDF candidates have now secured six wards of Kannapuram, three wards of Malapattam panchayat, and five wards of Anthoor mun

KALPETTA: The township project of the state government, aimed at the rehabilitation of Wayanad landslide survivors, crossed a major milestone on Monday with the completion of the roof concreting of the 50th house. The construction work at Elstone Estate, being carried out by the Uralungal Labour Contract Society (ULCCS), is progressing at a remarkable speed. Currently, the roof concreting of four houses is being completed daily on an average, and officials said it will soon be ramped up to 10 ho

PATHANAMTHITTA: As the local body elections draw near, Pandalam a municipality long influenced by the political and religious pulse surrounding the Sabarimala temple, braces for another high-stakes contest. For the BJP, which captured power there in the wake of the 2018 Sabarimala agitation, retaining the council is a critical political mission. It remains the partys sole ruling turf in south Kerala, and a test of whether the fervour it once harnessed still holds sway. Pandalams political shift

KOCHI: As his tenure nears end, Kochi Mayor M Anilkumar speaks to TNIE on his assessment of the past five years, LDFs challenges in the corporation and his advice to his successor. Excerpts: How do you evaluate your five-year performance? Are there any regrets about projects you wished you had completed? The public and media should evaluate my performance; I get positive response from the public. Considering the circumstances we faced during our tenure, including the by-elections, I am satisfied

KOCHI: The United Democratic Front (UDF) on Monday released its election manifesto, outlining a five-year plan centred on waste management, housing, public health and stronger local governance. The manifesto, unveiled in Kochi, gives sharp focus to the growing threats posed by stray dogs and wild animals. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said the document was drafted with accurate planning and clear timelines, emphasising that every project included in the manifesto is implementable in the giv

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: AI-generated videos of football legend Lionel Messi have been circulating among Keralites for almost a year, making the format familiar to many. Yet in November, when K P Saleem from the Otukkungal panchayat in Malappuram used a fresh Messi video as part of his campaign strategy, it created a flutter among voters. By tapping into the regions massive football fan base, Saleem managed to score a political goal or two against his opponents. This election marks the first major po

KOCHI: When the Indian Navy commissioned INS Mahe on Monday, it was not just the launch of a new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette, it was a landmark for Indias private ship design ecosystem. The Mahe-class lead ship, built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), is the first Indian naval vessel designed by a private firm. And it has a Kochi tag. Smart Engineering & Design Solutions (India) Pvt Ltd (SEDS), a naval architecture company operating out of Kakkanad, has etched its name as a pioneer in the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A total of 72,005 candidates are officially in the fray across the state for the upcoming local body elections, as per provisional data released by the State Election Commission late on Monday. The final picture of the candidates became clear after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended on Monday. The list of candidates includes 37,786 women, 34,218 men and one transgender person. Meanwhile, all major fronts are facing the menace of rebel candidates who have refused

KOCHI: In a significant decision to help locate Suraj Lama, a Bengaluru native who went missing in Kochi soon after being deported from Kuwait last month, the Kerala High Court has asked the state government to develop a mobile app that can issue a unified alert containing his details to various social media platforms. The court issued the directive while considering a habeas corpus petition filed by Santon Lama, Surajs son. It noted that the app should be created in coordination with the Kerala

KOCHI: Machines like forklifts and cranes, though used exclusively on private factory premises, fall under the category of motor vehicles and must be registered and taxed accordingly, the Kerala High Court has stated. Justice Mohammed Nias C P made the ruling while dismissing a petition filed by a company challenging a MVD directive prohibiting it from operating two forklifts and a hydraulic crane without registration and valid insurance. His counsel argued that the equipment operates strictly a

KOCHI: For decades, basketball ruled Keralas playgrounds, especially in schools and colleges. The state produced stars who dazzled on national and international courts, and galleries once filled up for neighbourhood games as if they were festival matches. Now, in an ambitious bid to relive that golden era and bring back the lost frenzy, the Kerala Basketball Association (KBA) is set to roll out the states first-ever exclusive basketball league in April 2026. The developmental competition titled

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At just 20 years old, Arundhathy Raju Nair is already a force to reckon with in the rare and demanding sport that is chessboxing. A final-year BTech student at LBS Engineering College in Thiruvananthapuram, Arundhathy has managed to balance the pressures of academics with the intensity of training, and in the process, etched her name in Asia Book of Records for being the only female athlete to win the Asian Chessboxing Championship for three consecutive years: 2023, 2024 and

ALAPPUZHA: The Alappuzha Additional Sessions CourtIII on Monday awarded death penalty to the first accused in the Anitha murder case that took place in Kainakari. Prabeesh (37), of Pookodan House, Nilambur, was sentenced to death for the murder of Anitha (32), of Thekkemadam House, Punnapra South panchayat. Rajani (38), of Pathissery House, Thottuvathala, Kainakari, is the second accused in the case. A close friend of Prabeesh, she is currently lodged in an Odisha jail in connection with an NDPS