MALAPPURAM: Ever heard of a place called Moscow in Malappuram? In the political heartland of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), there exists an unlikely island of red -- ward 9 of Irimbiliyam panchayat, locally known as Moscow. For over three decades, this tiny communist pocket has stood firmly with left candidates, even as the rest of the panchayat remains unwaveringly loyal to the Muslim League. With elections around the corner, the CPMs deep roots are visible at every turn here, shaping a

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The oldest municipal corporation in the state, Thiruvananthapuram where local polls are not just local battles but a way to higher levels of administration is all set to witness a tough contest this time. Over the years, the corporation has catapulted key figures to the legislative assembly, including General Education Minister V Sivankutty, who served as the mayor from 1995 to 2000, and Vattiyoorkkavu MLA V K Prasanth, who was the mayor from 2015 to 2019. While the LDF has

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With booth level officers (BLOs) and Opposition parties intensifying their stand against conducting the special intensive revision (SIR) during the local body election, the BJP has doubled down on its stance that the revision is essential to curb bogus voting. However, sources admit that the party is increasingly wary of the Opposition turning the hasty implementation of SIR into a political weapon, prompting the BJP to roll out urgent training sessions for its cadre. Senior

KOTTAYAM: In a major boost to the efforts to preserve the collection of palm leaf manuscripts and thaaliyola grantha (books made of palm leaf manuscripts) recovered from the attic of the Kumaranalloor Devi temple in Kottayam last year, the temple authorities have secured support from the Union government. The Sevadhi Museum and Indological Research Institute, established for the preservation of the manuscripts, has received approval from the Gyan Bharatam Mission under the Union Ministry of Cult

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

MALAPPURAM: The University of Calicut is facing serious allegations of irregularities in the question papers issued for the first-semester BCA, BSc (AI) and BA Journalism examinations. The complaints arose after errors were reported during the BCA and BSc (AI) exams held on November 14. The university usually sends the question papers online to colleges directly from the examination control room. According to students and teachers, the university reportedly sent a computer science paper to the B

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At a time when Varkala is being celebrated globally after finding a place on the Unesco tentative list, the historic cliff is ironically facing one of its worst phases of destruction with even government-approved projects contributing to the violations. Allegedly, the government has granted approval for two major projects that have encouraged large-scale interventions on the fragile and fast-eroding cliff. The government has given approval for a `25-crore project under the S

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Giving a bitter sight to book lovers in the capital city, over 700 books have been placed on low-lying chairs and platforms in the Malayalam section of the State Central Library here. When asked about the situation, the authorities stated that the books mostly new had been kept there for nearly a month. However, officials attributed this to the lack of furniture in the library. Even though we have been receiving many books, we do not have enough furniture or racks to keep t

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow alerts for seven districts Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki for Sunday. The IMD has forecast rain or thundershowers across many parts of Kerala over the next six days. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea till Monday. Alert issued Sunday: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki Monday: Thiruvanantha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the enumeration forms for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being distributed to 99.5% of the 2.78 crore voters in the state, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer-Kerala has decided to publish the list of 1.29 lakh voters who remained untraceable owing to various reasons. This constituted 0.47% of the total electorate. Addressing a news conference here on the sidelines of a meeting with representatives of various political parties, CEO-Kerala R

ALAPPUZHA/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant acknowledgement of gender self-identification in the local body polls, two trans women Arunima M Kurup in Alappuzha and Ameya Prasad in Thiruvananthapuram have been cleared to contest from women-reserved seats after days of uncertainty and scrutiny over their eligibility. The State Election Commission on Saturday granted permission to Arunima, 26, to contest from the women-reserved Vayalar division of Alappuzha district panchayat, ending prolonged

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mentioning that the essence of being an artist is to be honest to oneself and his surroundings, veteran Carnatic vocalist T M Krishna said that art which does not engage with time is useless. If an artists art is not in conversation with the time, place and environment they live in, it is not art, he said after receiving the fifth P Govinda Pillai Memorial National Award at the Senate Hall here on Saturday. Talking about traditional musicians like Thyagaraja Swamikal and Muth

KOTTAYAM: Having brought the rush of pilgrims under control, the government on Saturday decided to adjust spot booking at the Sabarimala hill shrine according to daily crowd flow. A high-level meeting convened by Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan in Pampa also decided to increase the number of devotees ascending the holy steps to 85 per minute from the current 75 to let more pilgrims have darshan. The meeting, attended by Devaswom secretary M G Rajamanickam and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) presid

KASARGOD: The flash mob organised by District Suchitwa Mission and Kumbashree Mission for green election campaign ended up triggering a communal clash, albeit unintentionally at Ulliyathadka near Kasaragod town on Friday. Kasaragod police booked 50 people for unlawful assembly and rioting. Three have been taken into custody so far. District Collector K Inbasekar flagged off Haritha Sandesh Yatra, a green campaign to ensure eco-friendly norms in 2025 local body elections, at the collectors office

MALAPPURAM: Junior Commissioned Officer Sajeesh K, 48, a Malayali soldier from Cherukunnu, Malappuram, died after falling into a gorge while on patrol at Behramgalla in Jammus Poonch district around 4 pm on Friday. Army personnel launched a rescue operation soon after the incident, but Sajeesh had died by then. His body was brought to Cherukunnu by 10 pm on Saturday. The body was kept at his residence, where the public can pay homage from 7.30 am to 9.30 am on Sunday. After an official guard of

KOCHI: A judicial officer in Kerala has approached the Supreme Court challenging the disciplinary action initiated against her by the Kerala High Court for stopping the proceedings in 1,910 cases. The petitioner, Sony A S, who served as the Judicial First Class Magistrate III in Kollam from August 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 had allegedly disposed of 1,910 cases indiscriminately, without recording any reason. A Division Bench of the Supreme Court consisting Justice Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta

KASARGOD: The Fire and Rescue Services in Kasaragod carried out a safety operation on Saturday after a herd of buffaloes strayed onto the national highway. A six-member team, along with patrolling staff of the contracting company of the highway construction, walked with the animals for over four kilometres, herding them to safety. The buffaloes, owned by five residents of Eriyal near Mogral Puthur, had been released for grazing as usual. However, 12 buffaloes broke away, entered the highway thro

Dr Arun Zachariah has dealt with the wild for 28 years, and continues to do so. Chief Forest Veterinary Officer with the Kerala forest department, he became a household name in the state after the widely-debated Arikomban translocation, and was involved with profiling about 190 wildlife conflicts. In a candid chat with TNIE, Dr Zachariah opens up about the wonderfully weird world of wild animals, why he believes feminism exists most among wild animals, and his close encounters with the wild. Exc

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Local body polls often act as a launch pad for new political faces, making them a keenly watched affair. These elections spawn leaders, disruptors, and at times kingmakers. Unlike general elections, voters are often kinder to those hopping from one party to another, finding fault with the policies they had espoused earlier, and contesting on a new label. The cabin of democracy during local body polls is so accommodating that there is room for turncoats and rebels. It is no di

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

MALAPPURAM: In the thick of an intense local body election season, IUML State President Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal speaks to TNIE about UDFs preparedness, seat-sharing debates, P V Anvars likely entry to the UDF, and why these elections could become a referendum on the Pinarayi Vijayan government. Excerpts The nomination process is over and the stage is set for the local body elections. How prepared are the Muslim League and the UDF? The UDF and the Muslim League are fully prepared. Our can

KOCHI: Nearly 15 years after the brutal hand-chopping attack on college professor T J Joseph, and the arrest of first accused Savad last year, the National Investigation Agency is set to carry out further investigation to determine whether more members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) were involved in the heinous assault. According to NIA, the custodial interrogation of Savad, who allegedly severed the professors right palm, had exposed a network of alleged PFI operatives who sheltered

Every year, the sleepy town of Tripunithura is jolted into a socio-cultural melange with the onset of Vrischikolsavam , the festival held in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (NovemberDecember). Held at the Poornathrayeesa Temple, this years eight-day festival began on November 19. It will conclude with the aarattu on November 26. It is believed that when the Perumpadappu Swaroopam (the erstwhile kingdom of Cochin) shifted its capital from earlier centres such as Mahodayapuram and later Thrissu

KOCHI: An unidentified woman was found murdered and wrapped in a plastic sack in the compound of a house in Thevara here, police said on Saturday. The body, discovered on the tiled courtyard beside the house, was first spotted by the volunteers of Haritha Karma Sena, the cleaning squad. The house owner was also found near the body. They soon informed the local councillor who in turn alerted the police. As per the preliminary investigation, the man was in relationship with the woman and murdered

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As many as 1.08 lakh candidates filed a total of 1.64 lakh nominations for the local body elections scheduled in December, the State Election Commission said on Friday, the last day to file the papers. At 57,227, women aspirants outnumber men. Malappuram had the highest number of candidates and nominations 13,595 and 19,959, respectively while Wayanad had the lowest at 3,180 candidates and 5,227 nominations. The lone transgender candidate from Thiruvananthapuram submitted t

SABARIMALA: With crowd pressure easing considerably on Friday, Sabarimala witnessed a smoother darshan experience for devotees even as the pilgrim turnout crossed five lakh since the MandalaMakaravilakku season began on November 16. By 7pm on November 21, the pilgrim count stood at 4,94,151. On Friday alone, up to 7pm, 72,037 pilgrims completed darshan. Reports from the base camp and hill trek not only point to improved crowd flow, but also indicate that the queue has stretched longer in some sp

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Facing attack from all corners, CPM state secretary M V Govindan has reiterated that the party would not protect anyone in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The culprits must be punished, he said. It is the declared position of the CPM that not even a speck of gold must be misappropriated. The party stands with the devotees. The chief minister had stated in the assembly that stern action would be taken. We did not take the issue on the basis of party politics. CPM has welcomed

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday quashed a Vigilance Court order directing an inquiry against ADGP M R Ajith Kumar in a disproportionate assets case. The court said the state governments sanction is needed to initiate proceedings against him in the case that had been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Meanwhile, the court also expunged all disparaging and adverse remarks against the chief minister, who had accepted the vigilance reports as part of official duty, in the orde

MALAPPURAM: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Friday carried out extensive searches at the residences of former Nilambur MLA P V Anvar and his driver Ziyad Ambayathingal in connection with a money laundering probe linked to an alleged loan fraud at the Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC), which reportedly caused a loss of Rs 22.30 crore. The raid, which began around 6.30am, went on for over 12 hours and concluded by 9.30pm. The ED team probing a case under the Prevention of Money Laun

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 arrogate

KOCHI: Scientists at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have found a new species of deep-sea squid in the Arabian Sea. The species, scientifically named Taningia silasii (Indian octopus squid), is the second confirmed species of the globally rare genus Taningia and has been formally described in the international journal Marine Biodiversity. The specimen was collected from nearly 390m depth off the Kollam coast. Measuring 45cm in length, the squid belongs to the family of Oc

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a stunning disclosure, the superintendent of Viyyur high-security prison admitted that 164 of the facilitys 165 CCTV cameras are defunct, leaving the prison without meaningful surveillance for over a year. Rajesh Kumar R S made the revelation before the Ernakulam NIA special court on Thursday. Installed on February 28, 2019, the cameras stopped working after the five-year warranty expired. The assistant engineer of PWDs electronics division in Thrissur reported that both t

KOCHI: When officials from a 100-year-old Japanese chocolate company arrived at Renny Jacobs farm in Kerala a few weeks ago, they werent there for courtesy. They spent two full days walking through his cocoa fermenting sheds, cracking open fresh cocoa pods, tasting pulp, studying the aromas rising from drying yards, and following Renny through mist-covered slopes in Idukki and Kottayam, where he has worked for more than three decades. By the time they boarded their flight back, they had placed a

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme in Kerala has come to a grinding halt following the recent Supreme Court directive prohibiting the release of sterilised dogs back into the same locations. Local bodies across the state have stopped catching stray dogs for sterilisation, as the court has mandated that they be relocated to shelters instead. With the stray dog crisis worsening, the state government has decided to write a letter to the Centre urging to amend the ABC rules

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is not the MLA or minister you call when a water pipeline ruptures or a death occurs in the locality. Neighbourhood concerns tend to be the domain of ward members or councillors. But, these representatives may not always remain the guy next door. Local-body polls have given rise to several prominent political figures in Kerala. From panchayats and municipalities, to halls of assembly and Parliament, TNIE talks to some of the key figures whose political careers began at the

KOCHI: In the local body elections of 2020, Chellanam, a coastal village in Kochi, saw a unique collective gaining traction. Declaring an all-out war against all mainstream political parties, a WhatsApp collective that grew into a political party contested the elections and snatched power. Fast forward to 2025, Chellanam 20-20 is nowhere to be seen. The aspiring collective has lost ground and support, and matters have come to such pass that is it not contesting the elections this year. The attri

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 sele

MALAPPURAM: Nilambur municipality stands as a political anomaly in Malappuram -- the only local body where the IUML does not hold even a single seat. Once a fortress of the Congress, the municipality witnessed an unprecedented political reversal in 2020 when the Left Democratic Front (LDF) stormed to power, winning 23 of 33 seats, dismantling decades of uninterrupted UDF dominance. Since its formation in 2010, the municipality had been governed twice by the UDF. Even earlier, during its grama pa

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president and senior CPM leader A Padmakumar played a direct role in the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala by conspiring with the co-accused, the police remand report filed before the Kollam vigilance court says. Padmakumar, who was TDB president when the alleged offence took place, was arrested on Thursday after hours-long interrogation. The remand report, details of which were accessed by the TNIE , said Padmakumar ignored guidelines, w

KOCHI: Whats in a name, people may ask. For Maya V, the LDF candidate for ward number 26 in Kothattukulam, a good name means great fame. When the CPM picked her as candidate, everything was normal. But within a day, she became a star on social media as memes comparing her with Mayavi, the mischievous and playful goblin from a cartoon series published by a childrens magazine. People were creating memes based on the movie Mayavi with actor Mammootty in the lead role. Everything was normal till I w

THRISSUR: A shocking incident was caught on camera in Thrissur, Kerala, where a man was seen driving an SUV with its owner clinging to the bonnet in a dangerous manner. The incident took place on Friday and was widely shared on social media. The car, rented out by Aluva-based Solomon, had been taken by a Thrissur native named Backar on October 16. Backar had promised to return the vehicle but failed to do so, prompting Solomon to file a complaint with the Aluva police. On Friday, Solomon spotted

Kerala is once again sliding into the election season, with the local body polls set to be held on December 9 and 11. Across the state, walls are sprouting posters, flex boards, and party colours. Small campaign offices have appeared in lanes and junctions. Political parties have now placed their candidates on the field, and campaigning is in full swing. But this election has a new audience watching from the front row Gen Z. The 13-to-28 crowd, stepping into civic life with a mix of scepticism,

KOCHI: What began as a morning of excitement for Avani, a native of Thumpoly in Alappuzha, turned into an ordeal no bride imagines. She had left home early on Friday, eager to get her bridal makeup done before heading to the temple for her wedding. But an unexpected accident involving Avani and her brother-in-law abruptly diverted her journey to the hospital. Initially rushed to Kottayam Medical College Hospital, she was later referred to VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi for specialised care. Des

NEW DELHI : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting search operations on Friday at multiple premises linked to former legislator PV Anvar and four others in connection with the Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC) loan misappropriation case. The ED is probing a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Anvar (58), his driver Siyad, and three KFC officials -Abdul Manaf, T Mini and Muneer Ahamed. The accused were allegedly involved in laundering money by fraudulently ob

PATHANAMTHITTA: With spot booking now capped at 5,000 per day following a Kerala High Court directive, authorities at Sabarimala said that the barrage of pilgrims that overwhelmed the hill shrine earlier this week has finally been brought under control. The restrictions, which came into force on Wednesday night, will remain until November 24. Meanwhile, spot booking will now be available only at Nilakkal and Vandiperiyar, while the centres at Pampa, Erumely, and Chengannur have been suspended te

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Crisis has engulfed the ruling CPM with the arrest of its senior leader A Padmakumar in the Sabarimala gold theft case. Padmakumar, the eighth accused in the case, is currently a member of the partys Pathanamthitta district committee. The 68-year-old former MLA was the partys strong leader in the district when he was appointed president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). But he failed to rise to the expectations of the government and the party in implementing the 2018 Su

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five people, including the main culprit involved in the murder of an 18-year-old youth near Thycaud on Monday, surrendered before the court. Jagathy natives, Ajin aka Jobi, 27, Abhijith, 26, Kiran, 26, Valiyavila native Nandu, 27, and Panniyode native Akhil Lal, 27, surrendered before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court on Thursday and were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. The five had fled to Tamil Nadu after fatally stabbing Allan, a native of Rajaji Nagar, w

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The centuries-old Murajapam-Lakshadeepam festival began at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple on Thursday. A maha ganapathy homam performed by temple thantri Tharananelloor Satheesan Nambooripad marked the commencement of the festival, celebrated once in every six years. Vedic scholars from different parts of the country chanted vedas in the temple. Special veda mandapas have been set up on the four nadas of the temple. The 56-day-long festival will see the chanting of Rig Veda,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Putting the CPM in a precarious position ahead of the local body elections, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold theft case on Thursday arrested senior party leader and former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A Padmakumar. A former MLA from Konni and CPM Pathanamthitta district committee member, Padmakumar was arrested after the SIT questioned him for hours in an undisclosed location in the state capital. The police had earlier listed the

KOCHI: Air India on Thursday announced the introduction of its new global menu across its fleet. The menu draws inspiration from Indias diverse culinary tapestry, from the royal kitchens of Awadh to the coastal flavours of southern India, while incorporating global influences through Pan-Asian, European Bistro, and geo-specific star dishes. The new menu, which includes Kerala-style Malabari chicken, has been introduced on most international ex-India routes, including flights from Delhi to London