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Pawans Call To Adopt Best Practices From Tamil Nadu, Kerala
The Deputy CM had directed the fisheries department officials to study the scope for creating similar facilities in Andhra Pradesh by adopting best practices from Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Actor Manju Warrier on Friday reacted to the verdict in the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case with a social media post, after the survivor posted her reaction to the trial courts decision that acquitted the eighth accused, actor Dileep. In her post, Manju said she held the court in respect but could not say that justice had been fully delivered. Only those who committed the crime have been punished so far. The fact that those who planned it, whoever they may be, are still out in the open is a frightening reality, she wrote, without naming anyone. She said justice for the survivor would be complete only when all those responsible are brought to account, adding that this was necessary to restore public faith, including her own, in the police and the legal system. This is not just for her, but for every girl, every woman and every human being in this country, Manju wrote, calling for a society where women can live and move without fear. The survivor, who was abducted and sexually assaulted in February 2017, had earlier shared an Instagram post reacting to the verdict. Seemingly reacting to the acquittal of the eighth accused did not come as a surprise to her. After years of pain, tears and emotional struggle, I have come to a painful realisation: not every citizen in this country is treated equally before the law, she wrote. 'Justice not equal for all': Actor abduction case survivor calls out Dileep's acquittal View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manju Warrier (@manju.warrier) In the post, dated December 12, 2025, the survivor said that after eight years, nine months and 23 days, she finally saw a small ray of light with the conviction of six accused in the case. For that, I am grateful, she said, while adding that she had begun losing faith in the trial court as early as 2020, when she felt there were changes in the manner in which the case was being handled, particularly with regard to one accused. The survivor alleged that her fundamental rights were not adequately protected during the trial and cited several concerns, including the illegal access of the memory card, a crucial piece of evidence, three times while it was in court custody. She said two public prosecutors resigned during the course of the trial, citing a hostile environment, and told her that they believed the proceedings were biased. She also said she repeatedly sought a proper investigation into the alleged tampering of the memory card, but the investigation report was not shared with her despite multiple requests. Every request to move this case away from the same judge was dismissed, she wrote, adding that her plea for the proceedings to be held in open court, allowing public and media scrutiny, was also rejected. Addressing what she described as misinformation surrounding the case, the survivor clarified that the prime accused was never her personal driver or employee. He was a random person assigned as a driver for a film I worked on in 2016. I met him once or twice during that time and never again until the day this crime happened, she wrote, urging people to stop circulating false narratives. Actor abduction and sexual assault case: Judgment comes after eight years, justice not yet Following his acquittal, the eighth accused addressed the media, maintaining that he had been falsely implicated in the case. He alleged that there had been a real conspiracy to frame him and claimed that certain police officials and sections of the media had worked to damage his career and public image. He denied all allegations against him and said the verdict vindicated his stand. He also criticised public remarks made earlier by his former wife Manju Warrier suggesting a conspiracy behind the crime, allegations he denied. Thanking his family, lawyers and supporters, he said the court verdict had dismantled what he described as a false narrative built against him. The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court pronounced the verdict after concluding final hearings on November 25. The court acquitted actor Dileep and three others, while convicting six accused, including prime accused Sunil NS alias Pulsar Suni, who was found guilty of carrying out the assault. The case relates to an incident on February 17, 2017, when the survivor was abducted after assailants forcibly entered the car she was travelling in and sexually assaulted her over nearly two hours. Police had initially named ten accused in the case, with arrests beginning soon after the incident. The eighth accused was arrested in July 2017 following further investigation, after police alleged that the prime accused had sent him a letter from jail. The larger-than-life arc of actor Dileep
Why women journalists cant log off?
A barrage of slurs floods the social media ugly, aunty, bimbo. Subha J Rao calls this a normal week on social media. After 28 years of working as a journalist, she has learned that she can never predict what will set people off. Recently, Subha noticed a surge of attacks on journalists who reviewed the Hindi film Dhurandhar . Journalist Anupama Chopras review was taken down. Another journalist Sucharita Tyagi faced relentless harassment for her views. And, for others, routine slurs escalated to death threats, with demands they leave the country a deluge of hatred simply for doing their job. It was just another day in the torrent of online attacks against journalists, particularly women. Across India, women journalists describe a similar pattern: abuse that begins online and spills into their personal life; hostility that scars mental health, shapes their daily routines, and professional choices; a constant calculation of risk. Identity as weapon For many women journalists, their identities become the criteria for the abuse. Mariam (name changed), a journalist in Tamil Nadu, intuitively knows when the attacks intensify. I see hate mails, slurs, name-calling and abuses only when I write stories featuring Dalits or highlight caste discrimination. They dont see a journalist, they see a Muslim propagandist, to the extent that Ive had readers call me terrorist, anti-national, jihadist, randi (prostitute). These labels have distorted how she views her own works. I have begun feeling like my stories are being conceived as a tool to fuel more Dalit hatred, instead of highlighting and uplifting their voice. Rachel Chitra, a journalist of more than two decades of experience, has had her share of religion-based abuses. Because Im a Christian, people call me rice bag convert. Writer and journalist Nisha Susan, recalls similar attacks from over a decade ago. Back in 2009-10, the accusations were bizarre. Someone said I was an agent of the Vatican; another said my real name was Mehrunisa. BH Harsh, a reporter at TNIE opines that the choice of language (against women journalists) is a lot more intense often used as sexual slurs, making them vicious. The attacks often extend beyond words. For Shivani Kava, senior reporter at The News Minute, reporting on the Dharmasthala case in Karnataka, made even her name a target. People asked me to change my name from Shivani because its a Shiva temple calling me a stain on Hindus. Someone created an AI-generated caricature of her profile picture added pimples, gave it bigger breasts, and cleavage. Though she reshared it online with defiance, the bravado masks deeper fears. These things get scary when youre reporting from your hometown. People know where your family lives. Nisha explains that people constantly assess your caste, religion, and region, online and offline. She says, If you are not Savarna and Hindu, things get harder. When the digital bleeds into reality The boundary between professional and personal life is collapsing. Shivani learned this on Church Street in Bengaluru. A man approached her complaining that she had reported on him. Shivani says, He was the creator of an Instagram account that posted non-consensual videos of women at Church Street. She walked away. And he screamed after her, What did I do wrong? After the incident, I removed most personal pictures from my feed. He followed me from two or three different accounts until I blocked him, says Shivani. This made her extra cautious even when she wasnt working. After that, I didnt go there for two or three weeks. I still wont go alone at night. Anushka (name changed), a photojournalist in Tamil Nadu, experienced a violation of consent from another part of the world. Three or four years ago, her Facebook Messenger suddenly filled with messages from Ethiopia. Around 50 people contacted her. They had taken one of my fieldwork pictures of me holding a lens and used it on an extremist page filled with guns. They described me as a revolutionary photojournalist in India, like what they were doing in Ethiopia. It felt strange. The hierarchy of risk Journalists face abuse on different levels. There is a hierarchy of vulnerability that tracks language, caste, religion, and class. Anushka points out the language divide. Regional journalists get more online abuse, comparatively. They are easy targets. If someone working for a Tamil newspaper posts something controversial, the abuse is immediate. Independent journalist Greeshma Kuthar confirms this. For English-language journalists, most threats stay online. Regional journalists get direct threats. Many whove been attacked or killed were regional reporters. Were actually protected in comparison and also better paid. Age, too, determines vulnerability. Nisha observes, Younger women get the casual constant harassment far more. Criticise a movie star or politician in some states, and you have to prepare for backlash. The ubiquity of attack For Shivani, the first time she realised online abuse was becoming dangerous was during coverage of a communal incident in Udupi, where three Muslim students were suspended for filming a Hindu woman. One of the messages she received read, We will put cameras into your washroom and then you call it a prank. The requirement of a journalist to widen their online presence can also make their escape almost impossible. Shivani states, The marketing of our stories happens on social media. For independent journalists like Greeshma, theres no choice at all. Im only on X (Formerly called Twitter) and Instagram because I have to be. As an independent journalist, thats the only way to get your work out. Real life experiences can't lie Kunal, Asia Pacific Programme Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ, has documented cases that reveal a darker picture. Unfortunately, nine out of 10 journalists targeted online in India are women. He describes, highlighting high-profile examples, Neha Dixit was stalked by someone who kept calling and describing her whereabouts. Rana Ayyubs face was morphed into pornographic content. Then there are organised campaigns. Weve seen everything from the awful Sulli Deals and Bulli Bai auctions, where photographs of Muslim women journalists, historians, others were posted online for bidding, to regional trolling patterns even in Kerala and Tamil Nadu where sexual innuendo and character assassination are common, Kunal notes. Even in a state like Kerala that is known for its highest literacy rate, women journalists told Kunal that they have faced attacks from political actors across ideologies, as well as from fans. He observes, They are frequently targeted through online posts with deep sexual undertones, which are used to tarnish journalists credibility and as a form of psychological warfare. Data shows that harassment of women journalists in India is a deeply systemic problem and is ideologically agnostic. IT wings of all political parties behave the same way, adds Greeshma. She says, Theyre henchmen waiting to attack anyone critical of their party. Theres no difference between them. The institutional void When facing this onslaught, women journalists should be able to turn to their pillars of support the newsrooms, the police, and journalism collectives. Some journalists acknowledge genuine support from institutions. Shivanis experience at her newsroom reveals what proactive newsroom support looks like. When any of us is targeted, our editor personally calls and even advises us to take a break from social media for a week. Its important to have women in managerial positions. While these are exceptional cases, Nisha identifies the structural problem. A very few media workers are actual employees with rights. Most are contract labourers. If something happens, a threat, a lawsuit, a trolling campaign, the organisation has no obligation to support you. Perhaps most disappointing, Greeshma says, is the response or lack of it from organisations meant to represent journalists interests. During the reporting of the Manipur violence, many of us, mostly women, were targeted viciously. None of the press unions said a word. She describes a selective outrage by these institutions. They issue statements depending on where the violence is happening, its posturing, she says. If women journalists are facing a clear, documented pattern of abuse, shouldnt these bodies push back? Lobby with X or the government? News organisations just tell journalists not to post or not to engage. Nobody is making the space safer. That silence, she shares, reinforces isolation. When Rachels harassment escalated to rape threats and the leaking of her mobile number and location, her organisation recommended she speak to the police. The police told me, Just block all the accounts. They didnt file an FIR just a CSR (Community Service Register) and nothing happened. Thats when I realised the police are going to be of no help. Filing complaints itself is a tedious process for many. Shivani points out the loopholes, In the Church Street case, the man was arrested earlier but still returned to the exact same spot after getting bail. Social media platforms have become the greatest institutional failure. Rachel experienced the platform hierarchy herself. When a friend in Manipur received death threats, they both reported it to Facebook. Nothing happened for 24 hours. Only when I messaged Facebooks India head did the posts get taken down. These platforms thrive on engagement. The reckoning needed Kunal identifies where intervention is needed, starting with newsrooms themselves. Newsrooms must be proactive, not reactive. Safety protocols dont have to be expensive. Journalists covering riots should not be sent alone, especially if they belong to the religious community being targeted. The first person a journalist calls when in danger is their editor. If editors arent serious about safety, blaming the statealone wont solve anything. The government must act, he argues not as a favour but as democratic necessity. The pattern of online abuse, Kunal notes, is not unique to India, but it takes a particular form here. In Bangladesh, journalists are targeted along clear lines of political polarisation. In Nepal, retaliation follows corruption reporting, often cutting across party lines. In Sri Lanka, ethnic identity shapes who is attacked and when. In India, however, journalists are frequently targeted simply for reporting critically about those in power, whether at the Centre or in the states or locally and women are disproportionately exposed to this risk. Women continue to report not because the system protects them, but because they believe the work matters. When a society relies on bravery instead of protection, it signals not strength, but neglect. (The author is a Laadli Media Fellow. The opinions and views expressed are those of the author. Laadli and UNFPA do not necessarily endorse the views.)
Local body verdict sets stage for high-stakes Assembly battle in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram: With the state Assembly elections just months away, the results of Keralas local body polls have given the Congress-led UDF a favourable position for the upcoming contest and a more challenging situation for the ruling Left Front. The results also indicated a favorable outlook for the BJP in upcoming state elections, where it currently 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 .
SIT records Chennithalas statement in Sabarimala gold theft case
He tells media that he has informed the SIT about the alleged links between the gold theft and international antiques smugglers. He clarifies that the inputs he provided are not evidence, but information
IFFK Experienzia marks 30 years of the festival
LDF, UDF on the hunt for mayoral candidates in Kozhikode Corporation
The LDF will not be able to rule the Corporation without the support of at least a few councillors from either the UDF or the NDA; DCC president says UDF will put up a strong fight for the post of Mayor
2026 Assembly polls: Kerala likely to have 5,037 additional polling stations
The number of enumeration forms on the Uncollectable List of SIR has risen to 24.92 lakh
All eyes on Independent candidates in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation
Though BJP achieved a big win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, it has fallen one short of the required majority number of 51 in the council
MGU to hold Scaria Zacharia memorial lecture on December 15
LDF will examine whether campaigns on expanded social security net and achievements in infrastructure development crowded out ruling front conversations about voter-relevant local issues, pivotal to the local body polls
Amidst celebrations, Ponmundam gives heartburns to IUML
IFFK: third Kerala Film Market opens
Actor assault case: court questions SITs omission of woman whom Suni contacted as witness
Court finds that SIT did not cite Sreelakshmi, whom the convict Pulsar Suni contacted and messaged while he was travelling with the survivor on the fateful day.
Truck carrying waste meat and vegetables from hotels in Kerala seized in Theni district
LDF candidate draws blank in Pattambi
Recovery and reconstruction in Gaza not going to be easy: Palestinian Ambassador
LDF loser joins BJP friends victory dance
UDFs victory in Erumely refuses to translate to power
The post of panchayat president has been reserved for a SC member, and no one from UDFs elected panel is from the community. However, both LDF and NDA have one SC member, making them eligible to claim the post
LDF candidate gets one vote in Mannarkkad
Kerala Congress (M) alleges misinformation campaign over poor electoral performance
The party had rather fared well at the just-concluded local body polls, retaining 10 of 11 sitting seats in Pala municipality, it says
Technology unlocking new opportunities, continuity of policies key to Keralas transformation: CM
CM says Kerala is now fully connected through optical fibre and provides high quality talent, and which together provides the most ideal destination for investment and innovation
Ambayathode clash: police intensify search for suspects
Sabarimala sees rise in footfall via forest trek paths
So far, 37,059 devotees have passed throgh Azuthakadav-Pamba trail. Sathram path in Vandiperiyar has recorded 64,776 arrivals
Kerala actor assault case: Manju Warrier says justice for survivor is still incomplete
Only those who committed the crime have been punished. The mind that planned and enabled this heinous act, whoever that is, still walks free, and that is terrifying, writes the actor in a social media post
Survivor in actor rape case expresses profound disenchantment with trial court judgment
She says in a social media post that her fundamental rights were not protected and that the most important evidence in the casethe memory cardwas found to have been illegally accessed three times while it was in court custody
Violence after local body poll result declaration: case filed against CPI(M) workers in Kannur
Police say CPI(M) workers unleashed violence in parts of north Kerala soon after the declaration of the election results
UDFs victory in Idukki dashes Tamil Nadu parties Kerala ambitions
Police tighten vigil in Kozhikode after firecracker explosion kills youth
Who Is Raid Sreelekha? Former IPS Officer Likely To Become BJP Mayor In Thiruvananthapuram
BJP ended 45 years of CPI(M) rule in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation as R Sreelekha, Keralas first woman IPS officer, won Sasthamangalam ward.
Kerala bags first rank in Group 3 division of State Energy Efficiency Index
The Kerala assault survivor BREAKS silence for the FIRST time
A Kerala assault survivor has broken her silence after an eight-year legal battle, expressing disappointment with the justice system and questioning equality before the law. While six accused were convicted, she highlighted suspicious turns in the trial, including the tampering of crucial evidence and rejected pleas to change the judge, leading to a loss of faith in the court.
Pension is not LDFs charity, it is peoples right, says Kerala Youth Congress O.J. Janeesh
He calls Manis statement unacceptable and demeaning
Kerala Governor flags judicial overreach in university V-C selection
Governor deplores tendency of one institution usurping the role of another in a democracy
Kerala Lottery Result Today: Samrudhi SM-33 Winners For December 14, 2025
Kerala Lottery Result Today, 14-12-2025: Heres full list of winning numbers for Samrudhi SM-33 lottery for Sunday, December 14.
BJP exaggerating gains in Kerala local body elections, says Congress leader Venugopal
Congress leader K C Venugopal stated the BJP is creating a false narrative about gains in Kerala local body elections. He highlighted the UDF's significant victory, attributing it to public anger against the Pinarayi Vijayan government. Venugopal emphasized the UDF's increased presence across various local bodies, signaling a strong performance.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph, MLA, said welfare pension was an inalienable right and not CPI(M)s charity
BJP will Keep Gaining Ground in Kerala: MP CM Yadav
The BJP's victory flag was flying across the country and party-led state governments were continuously setting benchmarks of good governance, he said
CBI chargesheets four Chinese behind Rs 1,000-cr cyber crime racket; 111 shell companies unmasked
NEW DELHI: The CBI has filed a chargesheet against 17 people, including four Chinese nationals, and 58 companies for their alleged roles in a transnational cyber fraud network that siphoned off over Rs 1,000 crore through a sprawling web of shell entities and digital scams, officials said on Sunday. After busting the racket in October, investigators unravelled a single, tightly coordinated syndicate that relied on an elaborate digital and financial infrastructure to run a range of frauds. These included misleading loan applications, fake investment schemes, Ponzi and multi-level marketing models, bogus part-time job offers and fraudulent online gaming platforms. According to the probe agency's final report, the group layered the flow of illicit funds through 111 shell companies, routing about Rs 1,000 crore via mule accounts. One account received more than Rs 152 crore in a short span. The shell companies, the CBI said, were incorporated using dummy directors, forged or misleading documents, fake addresses and false statements of business objectives. These shell entities were used to open bank accounts and merchant accounts with various payment gateways, enabling rapid layering and diversion of proceeds of crime, a CBI spokesperson said in a statement. Investigators traced the origins of the scam to 2020, when the country was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The shell companies were allegedly incorporated at the direction of four Chinese handlers -- Zou Yi, Huan Liu, Weijian Liu, and Guanhua Wang. Their Indian associates procured identity documents from unsuspecting individuals, which were then used to establish the network of shell companies and mule accounts to launder proceeds from the scams and obscure the money trail. CBI, FBI dismantles transnational cyber crime network in Noida, six arrested The investigation exposed communication links and operational control that, the agency said, nailed the role of Chinese masterminds running the fraud network from abroad. Significantly, a UPI ID linked to the bank accounts of two Indian accused was found to be active in a foreign location as late as August 2025, conclusively establishing continued foreign control and real-time operational oversight of the fraud infrastructure from outside India, the CBI statement said. The probe found that the racketeers employed a highly layered, technology-driven modus operandi, using Google advertisements, bulk SMS campaigns, SIM-box-based messaging systems, cloud infrastructure, fintech platforms and multiple mule bank accounts. Each stage of the operation -- from luring victims to collection and movement of funds -- was deliberately structured to conceal the identities of the actual controllers and evade detection by law enforcement agencies, the spokesperson said. The chargesheet names 17 individuals, including the four Chinese nationals, and 58 companies. The investigation was launched on the inputs from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which flagged large-scale cheating of citizens through online investment and employment schemes, resulting in the arrest of three individuals in October. Though initially appearing as isolated complaints, detailed analysis by CBI revealed striking similarities in applications used, fund-flow patterns, payment gateways and digital footprints, pointing towards a common organised conspiracy, the agency said. Following the October arrests, the CBI conducted searches at 27 locations across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Haryana, seizing digital devices, documents and financial records that were later subjected to detailed forensic examination.
Kerala Lottery Result Today: Karunya KR-734 Winning Numbers For December 13, 2025
Kerala Lottery Result Today, 13-12-2025: Heres full list of winning numbers for Karunya KR- 734 lottery for Saturday, December 13.
Who is R Sreelekha, Keralas first woman IPS officer and BJPs Mayor face in Thiruvananthapuram
The Bharatiya Janata Party has secured a significant victory in Thiruvananthapuram's civic body elections. This win ends decades of Left rule. R Sreelekha, a retired IPS officer, is a strong contender for the Mayor's position. This marks a notable shift in Kerala's political landscape. Sreelekha's candidature from Sasthamangalam ward has garnered attention.
Kerala local body poll results: Nilambur political anomaly upended as UDF stages comeback
MALAPPURAM: Nilambur municipality, once showcased as a rare Left breakthrough in Malappuram, delivered a resounding verdict on Saturday, throwing the LDF out of power and restoring the UDF with an overwhelming majority. The LDF, which had ruled the council since its historic 2020 win, was reduced to just six seats, while the UDF swept 26 of the 36 wards. According to the final results, the IUML, which had drawn a blank in the previous council, made a strong comeback by winning seven seats. The outcome marks a complete undoing of the political realignment that began in 2020, when the LDF dismantled decades of uninterrupted UDF dominance by winning 23 of the-then 33 seats. That victory had also wiped the IUML off the council and reduced the Congress to single digits. Nilambur municipality, formed in 2010, was governed twice by the UDF before the Lefts breakthrough. The political tide turned decisively after P V Anvar emerged as a disruptor, defeating then municipality chairman Aryadan Shoukath in the 2016 Assembly election. That upset laid the foundation for the LDFs municipal triumph four years later. Though Anvar retained his Assembly seat in 2021, his subsequent estrangement from the LDF and eventual switch to the Trinamool Congress in 2025 weakened the political ecosystem that had propelled the Left to power in Nilambur. In the latest election, candidates backed by Anvar performed poorly, failing to cross double digits.
Strong UDF show in Kerala local polls, BJP takes capital
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Local body polls often signal the changing course of Kerala politics. On Saturday, political Kerala witnessed one of the biggest comebacks of recent times, with the Congress-led UDF scripting an authoritative victory in the two-phase local body elections held on December 9 and 11, and the ruling LDF nearly washed out. Riding on an anti-incumbency wave, the UDF garnered a stupendous victory, winning four out of six municipal corporations, seven district panchayats, 54 municipalities, 79 block panchayats and around 505 grama panchayats. The LDF lost four sitting municipal corporations, as many district panchayats, more than 100 grama panchayats, half of the block panchayats and around 20 municipalities. The election results, widely perceived as a precursor to the assembly polls just a few months away and the writing on the wall is clear: despite all its inherent weaknesses, the Congress front appears to be on a comeback path. However, what will go down in history as the biggest takeaway of the 2025 local body polls is the saffron front clinching the prestigious Thiruvanathapuram city corporationa victory that has the potential to fuel the BJPs growth in Kerala in the coming years. Egged on by the BJP national leaderships long-standing desire to win the city corporation in the state capital, the BJP-led NDA wrested the civic body from the LDF, winning 50 out of 100 wards. Kerala local body polls: UDF makes history, sweeps panchayats, corporations; NDA secures Thiruvananthapuram The NDA which was struggling to find a foothold in state politics, has managed to proved itself a formidable contender to both fronts, with its comprehensive win in a municipal corporation, a first for the saffron party in the state. In an election that was supposed to be a referendum on a decade of CPM-led rule under Pinarayi Vijayan, the LDF was banking mainly on the recent hike in social welfare pensions to win the peoples mandate, while its cyber team focused on the Mankootathil issue. The voters, however, were in no mood to take the bait, and chose to hand the Left a resounding defeat. On the other hand, the UDF and the NDA based their campaign on the Sabarimala gold theft, which seems to have made an impact on the faithful as well as the discerning public.
Thiruvananthapuram verdict endorses BJPs development agenda, says state president Rajeev
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday said the NDAs strong performance in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation elections reflected public acceptance of the partys development agenda and a clear rejection of the LDFs governance in the state capital. This result clearly shows that people have accepted the BJPs development vision. The BJP will fulfil every promise made in its manifesto and develop the state capital into one of the countrys leading cities, Chandrasekhar said while addressing party workers following the counting of votes. Commenting on the Congress improved performance against the LDF, Chandrasekhar said the outcome should not be seen as a lasting political shift. The Congress may celebrate its gains over the LDF, but that is only a temporary outcome driven by anti-incumbency votes, he said. Chandrasekhar asserted that the LDF was rapidly losing relevance in Keralas political landscape after a decade in power. In the coming assembly election, the people will have a clear choice between the NDA and the UDF. The people have rejected the LDF, he said. He alleged that corruption had emerged as a decisive factor against the LDF.
Revelling in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation victory, BJP ignores bruises
KOCHI: Overwhelmed by the resounding victory in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP has ignored the bruises it suffered across the state in the local body elections. The massive preparations at the grassroots level paid off as the NDA has increased its representation in local bodies, but the party failed to secure a clear majority in Palakkad , a fortress it held for more than a decade. The saffron party finished a distant third in the Pandalam municipality which it ruled in 2020. Another setback was the loss of Kulakkada panchayat ruled by BJP for the past three terms. Anti-government sentiments were strong in the southern districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kottayam following the Sabarimala gold theft case. The election held during the peak of the Mandala season reflected the sentiments of the devotees who had started ditching the LDF after the 2018 women entry issue. However, the voters once again supported the UDF to vent their ire. As a senior BJP leader put it, the BJP led the campaign, but the UDF reaped the harvest. But the performance of the BJP in the two municipalities it held in 2020 was one factor that influenced the voters. The BJP squandered its opportunity in Pandalam municipality as councillors fought for power and the party failed to deliver. The situation was even worse in Palakkad where the municipal chairperson herself came out against the party during the peak of the campaign. Despite giving lectures on double-engine administration, the party couldnt deliver the benefits of Central projects it had promised the voters. Though the BJP had secured a comfortable lead in 71 divisions of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it couldnt ensure a simple majority and will have to depend on independents for smooth administration. The party created an impression during the campaign that it will secure power in Thrissur Corporation but could win only eight seats. An analysis of the voting pattern in Thrissur reveals that the Christian voters who supported BJP during Lok Sabha polls have favoured the UDF this time. The eight seats won by BJP are Hindu majority wards. The results in Thrissur are not discouraging. We were hoping to win 12 to 14 seats in the corporation and got 8 of them. The party lost six seats by a slender margin. You cannot expect a verdict similar to Lok Sabha election as the charisma of Suresh Gopi made the difference, said BJP state vice president B Gopalakrishnan.
LDF retains toehold in municipalities, panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram district
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the CPM-led LDF suffered a rout in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, it fared well in all the four municipalities in the district. Interestingly, it retained them with a performance bettering even the 2020 tally. The LDF cruised to simple majority in Nedumangad and Neyyattinkara municipalities, while in Attingal and Varkala, it became the biggest coalition but ended tantalisingly close to breaching the threshold. Requiring 22 seats for a majority, LDF coasted to 29 seats (an improvement from 27 in 2020) in Nedumangad. UDF bagged 10 seats (two more), while NDA won three seats (one less). In Neyyattinkara, the LDF staged a stellar performance winning 25 seats, while the threshold for majority was 24. The left front managed to raise their seats from 18 to 25, while the UDF tally fell from 17 to 12. The NDA too saw its seats diminishing from nine to seven. In Attingal, LDF won 16 seats out of 31. Last time they had 18. UDF won seven seats (one less than 2020). NDA maintained status quo winning seven seats. As 17 seats are required for majority, the LDF will need to cobble up support from UDF or others, who have two seats. In Varkala, LDF improved its tally from 12 to 16. UDF scored six (one less). The NDA, which won 11 seats last time and has been vying to make further inroads, failed to improve its tally. It won 10 seats. However, the LDF received a big jolt in the district panchayat election. Though it pipped UDF by winning 15 seats, the waning influence was obvious. In 2020, they had won 20 seats. The UDF gave a tight fight winning 13 seats, improving upon their 2020 tally of six. The UDF retained its seats in Balaramapuram, Kanjiramkulam and Kilimanoor. It lost Palode, Vellanadu and Vellarada.
Kerala local body poll results: LDF wins third time in Varkala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Varkala municipality has delivered a clear mandate this time, with the LDF retaining power. Out of the 34 wards, the front secured 16 seats, pushing the NDA to a distant second with 10. The UDF slipped in to the third place with only six seats. The support of two independent councillors will now be crucial, as the LDF requires 18 seats to secure a ruling majority. In the 2020 elections, the LDF had won 12 seats, the NDA 11, the UDF 7, and independents 3. The LDF had formed the council then with the backing of independents. This year, Varkala recorded the lowest voter turnout among municipalities in the district, though participation was higher than in the previous election. Over 66% of the 33,911 registered voters had cast their ballots this time around. Until 2015, Varkala had alternated its mandate between the UDF and LDF. The trend shifted in 2020 when the LDF secured a consecutive term with independent support. This time, the chairpersons post is reserved for a woman.
Kerala actor assault case: Prosecution fails to prove purpose of Sunis visit to Kavyas store
KOCHI: The prosecution failed to prove to the trial court the purpose of Pulsar Sunis visit to Laksyah, a clothing business run by Kavya Madhavan. At one stage, the prosecution asserted that Suni intended to collect quotation money for the abduction and sexual abuse of the actor on February 17, 2017. It also claimed that first accused Suni and fourth accused Vijeesh V P visited Laksyah to hand over a letter. Simultaneously, the prosecution took the stand that the visit was to deliver a memory card containing visuals of the sexual assault and to hand over the mobile phone used to record the act, the court judgment showed. The court noted the defences argument that Dileep was in no way connected with the management or functioning of Laksyah. The business establishments in which Dileep had ownership were located in Edappally and Chalakudy. Had Suni and Vijeesh intended to meet Dileep, they would have approached these establishments or his residence, the judge said. It observed that evidence was not reliable enough to conclude that either Suni alone or Suni along with Vijeesh reached Laksyah on February 22, following the incident. 2017 actress assault case: Court cited lack of evidence to prove motive The prosecution argued that Sunis attempts to make contact prior to his arrest revealed the existence of a criminal conspiracy. A witness, who was an employee at Laksyah, initially deposed that nothing unusual had occurred at the shop. Subsequently, the police recorded his statement again, after which he deposed in tune with the prosecution case. The court observed that the reason put forward by the prosecution for re-examining the witness after the revelations made by filmmaker Balachandra Kumar appeared doubtful. The witness stated that he deposed in favour of the prosecution due to pressure exerted on him. The court noted that the prosecution had no case in claiming that Suni copied the visuals to other devices, including a memory card. Had this been the case, the alleged entrustment of a memory card at Laksyah would also appear doubtful. The case of the prosecution was that the visuals were copied only to a pen drive, which was seized by the police. Therefore, there was no possibility of handing over a memory card containing the visuals at Laksyah. It concluded that the purpose of the visit to Laksyah appeared to vary, based on claims of several witnesses.
Violence reported in several parts of Kerala after civic poll results
Violence flared across Kerala after local body election results were announced. Clashes erupted in northern districts, including Kozhikode and Kannur. Political party offices were attacked, and vehicles were damaged. Several individuals sustained injuries in the incidents. Police intervened to control the volatile situations in various locations.
Two young women steal the show in Pala municipal polls
KOTTAYAM: In the fiercely-contested Pala municipality election, two young women in their 20s have stolen the show, scripting stunning victories Riya Bino Cheeramkuzhy and Diya Binu Pulikkakandam. Riya, an offroader with a penchant for adventure, won Kaveekunnu ward (320 votes) on a Congress ticket, while Diya, an economics graduate, triumphed in Palampurayidom as an independent candidate (279 votes). On her victory, Riya, 24, said, I am delighted to have won in my first election. I will serve the people to the best of my ability. I have a lot of plans. Diya, 21, is equally delighted. I anticipated this victory and am thrilled with the outcome. I will do justice to my voters and will work for them for the next five years, Diya told TNIE . The two victories are indeed indicative of how todays youngsters are making a mark in the polls, more profoundly so at the local administrative level. Affirming this transition, Diya said that todays youth are more independent and that their political orientations transcend traditional political affiliations. We all share core values and beliefs. My political philosophy centres on the betterment of those around us. While I have my own political views, they are not tied to any particular party, she said. Riyas political debut also dismisses familial political affiliations. Biju Pulikkakandam, Diya Binu and Binu Pulikkakandam won seats in the election to Pala municipality. Her fathers brother once served as an LDF councilor in the Pala municipality. However, when approached by Congress members to run for election, the youngster not one to back down from a challenge saw it as a valuable opportunity and took it up earnestly. Riya inherits her passion for offroading from her father, Bino Jose. After having made a name on dirt tracks, she is now on her way to leave an imprint on Palas politics. With a hung council in Pala, it is likely that parties will seek the support of independents to gain an advantage. So, Diya, too, stands to become a chairperson with the support of either Front. Politically, Diya has an opportunity, said Binu Pulikkakandam, her father. We have not engaged in any discussions. We will take a decision thats beneficial to people. Interestingly, Binu and his brother Biju had also contested the election alongside Diya as an independent collective. They, too, won in their respective wards.
Ex-IPS officer Sreelekha for mayor of Thiruvananthapuram?
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) decision to field R Sreelekha, a former State Police Chief-rank officer, for a ward councillors post for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation election was one that raised eyebrows. However, the bold yet peculiar move has paid rich dividends. With the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) sweeping half of the 100 seats in the corporation, Sreelekha, who won with a sweeping majority at Sasthamangalam ward, is among the frontrunners for the Mayors post. On speculation about this possible elevation, she maintained that the decision rests with the party. Sreelekha won 1,774 votes at Sasthamangalam, 708 more than the Left Fronts candidate, Amrita R, who came second (1,066 votes). However, her transition from a top-ranking police officer to electoral politics was not without controversy. During the campaign, the use of her IPS designation in campaign posters drew sharp criticism, while a social media post sharing a pre-poll survey shortly after the election process began landed her in trouble with the authorities. However, Sreelekha navigated these challenges and secured the mandate of the voters, thereby helping BJP to a historic win. One that marks a notable shift in the capitals political landscape. On her political debut, Sreelekha said she had entered public life with the same commitment that defined her three-decade-long police career. I became an IPS officer to serve the people. I decided to contest this election with the same motto. I am thankful to the voters for giving the NDA a chance. We will ensure development and a corruption-free administration, she said. Kerala local body polls: UDF makes history, sweeps panchayats, corporations; NDA secures Thiruvananthapuram
2017 actress assault case: Court cited lack of evidence to prove motive
KOCHI: Though the prosecution in the 2017 actor abduction and sexual abuse case cited the motive as Dileeps enmity and desire for revenge against the survivor for tattling on him to his first wife about his alleged illicit relationship with Kavya Madhavan, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court found the claim unsubstantiated. The matter first came to light when Manju Warrier read messages sent by Kavya to Dileeps mobile phone. However, the court noted that these messages were not produced before it. Moreover, Manju, who claimed to have seen the messages, did not disclose their contents. Except for the assertion that the messages were of a private nature, there was nothing before the court to establish their contents, which were allegedly seen by Manju on February 12, 2012. The court further observed that although the survivor claimed that Dileep denied her opportunities in the Malayalam movie industry, no convincing evidence, apart from her oral testimony, was produced to substantiate the allegation. It noted that while Manju initially stated to the investigating officer that she had direct knowledge about the messages, she did not state that she had seen them on Dileeps mobile phone. In her second statement, she said that she had seen the messages exchanged between Kavya and Dileep on one occasion on Dileeps phone. However, while deposing before court, she stated that she saw the messages on February 12, 2012, on Dileeps old mobile phone. The prosecution alleged that Dileep and Kavya were maintaining an illicit relationship. The court noted that had this been the case, Kavya would have contacted Dileep upon receiving inquiries from Manju in the matter. The court reiterated that the messages allegedly seen by Manju on Dileeps mobile phone were never produced before it. During the examination, Kavya denied that Dileep frequently visited her during a show in the United States. The prosecution also alleged that during a bus journey in London in May-June 2012, Dileep confronted the survivor, questioning why she revealed his relationship with Kavya to Manju and her friends. According to the prosecution, they were in the vehicle as part of a team of performers on tour in Europe. However, the court found it highly improbable that such a confrontation could have occurred in the presence of other members of the team, without anyone else noticing it. The court further observed that even after the alleged incident, the survivor continued to perform with Dileep. There was also a special programme in which songs from films featuring both the survivor and Dileep were performed. In such circumstances, the court said, there ought to have been communication between them. The survivors submission that they abstained from conversation during the rehearsal camp was found to be unbelievable. The judge held that Dileep did not maintain a cordial relationship with the survivor. At the same time, the prosecution failed to adduce evidence regarding the alleged incidents in 2012 and the AMMA rehearsal camp at Kochi Hotel Abad Plaza in 2013, which were relied upon to bolster the argument that Dileep harboured hatred, ill-will, and an intention to destroy the survivors career. COURTS OBSERVATIONS The court held that the change in the hash value of the memory card did not, in any manner, affect its evidentiary value, as the visuals remained intact and the privacy of the survivor was never compromised It observed that despite extensive investigation into the mobile phone allegedly used to capture the visuals, further investigation was still stated to be ongoing. The records showed that the investigating officer had arrived at a clear finding that the mobile phone allegedly entrusted by Suni to advocate Pradeesh Chacko and handed over to advocate Raju Joseph was destroyed by him. If this is the situation, how can further investigation be conducted on such a phone? the court asked No witness examined by the prosecution proved the alleged incidents relating to the use of a mobile phone by Suni to contact Dileep while in jail. No investigation was conducted regarding the charger allegedly used to power the phone inside jail The court also held that the prosecution failed to prove the genuinity of the letter sent by Pulsar Suni from jail to Dileep
Kerala local body poll results: Young viral candidates turn the tide
KOCHI: It has been a virtual balancing act for many! This local self-government election has seen several young candidates who gained social media popularity surge to victory. The streak began with UDF candidate Vyshna Suresh, who won the Muttada ward of Thiruvananthapuram corporation considered a Left stronghold by a margin of 397 votes. Vyshna secured 1,607 votes, dealing a major setback to Kesavadasapuram sitting councillor Amsu Vamadevan. The victory assumed as it followed a dramatic controversy in which her name was removed from the voters list after she was announced as the UDF candidate. Following suit, IUMLs Fathima Thahiliya won the Kuttichira division of Kozhikode corporation, securing 3,740 votes against INL candidate V P Rahiyanath. Another League candidate, Najma Thabsheera, emerged victorious in the Valamboor division of Perinthalmanna with a margin of 2,612 votes over CPMs Hema. UDF candidate Arathy Pradeep won the Mangalam division of Malappuram district panchayat, defeating CPM candidate C M Jaseena by a massive margin of 11,876 votes, and Mumthaz Vahab won the Kannamkulangara division of Thrissur corporation. In Payyannur municipality, C Vaisakh, a former CPM branch secretary and DYFI leader who contested as a rebel against the official LDF candidate, registered a notable victory in the Kara division. Additionally, UDF candidate Riya Cheerankuzhi, a well-known offroader, who contested from Kaveekunnu division of Pala municipality, CPM candidate Sneha K from Shantipallam ward of Kumbala panchayat, and Soumya S from the Emily Thadam division of Kalpetta municipality who earlier made headlines for chasing down chain snatchers, an incident later portrayed in the 2022 Malayalam film Oruthee were also among those who secured victories. At the same time, there were several candidates with a strong social media presence who failed to translate the attention into votes. Topping the list was Amritha R, the young CPM candidate who lost in the Sasthamangalam division of Thiruvananthapuram corporation. Despite attracting wide attention, Amritha was defeated by NDAs S Sreelekha, who also commanded significant social media visibility. Other defeated social media faces include TV personality Maya V alias Mayavi (Edayar West), UDFs Navya Mohanan P (Kottapady), Afeefa Nafeesa (Kadalundy), NDAs Adheena Bharati (Karinkunnam), and CPMs Reshma Mariam Roy who, in 2020, at 21, became the youngest person to head a local body in the state. She lost the Malayalapuzha division of Pathanamthitta panchayat. Commenting on the emerging trend, M R Ajayan, a political analyst, said the strategy worked. Nearly 80% of candidates with strong social media popularity won. Regional and electoral dynamics also contributed. There is still uncertainty over whether this trend will persist, Ajayan said.
Kerala local body poll results: Sambar Munnani stirs the pot in Ponmundam
MALAPPURAM: Ponmundam panchayat, long regarded an anomaly in Keralas coalition politics, has delivered a verdict that rewrites its political history. The Congress-CPM-backed Janakeeya Munnani on Saturday swept the local body polls, winning 13 of the 18 wards and ending decades of uninterrupted Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) dominance. The result marks the most emphatic comeback of the much-maligned Sambar Munnani the Congress-CPM combine nearly three decades after its first, abortive experiment in 1996. It was a combined effort by the Congress and the CPM. People here were fed up with developmental stasis and communal politics. Joining hands as secular parties was the only solution, said Congress leader Muhammed Ashraf. Every step was crucial. Candidates were selected carefully, keeping them close to the public. Political affiliation was kept out of the contest, which is why all candidates ran as independents. Despite pressure from the IUML leadership, we were not ready to step back, he added. The scale of IUMLs setback is stark. After winning 10 seats in 2010, 11 in 2015 and 12 in 2020, the party was reduced to a marginal presence this time, despite contesting 18 of the 19 wards. The Janakeeya Munnanis strategy of fielding candidates as independents paid off: The Congress won nine seats, the CPM three, and Team Ponmundam one. The victory followed an extraordinary realignment, including the Congress district leaderships decision to dissolve the Ponmundam constituency committee to facilitate the alliance with the CPM its principal adversary at the state level. It was IUML versus all other political parties here. However we did not expect such a result, admits IUML panchayat commitee vice-president Subair. False propaganda seems to have influenced voters. We will make a strong comeback in the next election, he added. The scale of IUMLs setback is stark.
Kerala local body poll results: BJP to stake claim as single largest party in Tripunithura
KOCHI: Registering an improved performance with each passing election, the BJP finally emerged as the single largest party in Tripunithura municipality. With 21 seats in the 53-member council, the BJP however failed to secure a simple majority. The ruling LDF was reduced to 20 seats, while the UDF only managed to win 12. Though the LDF and the UDF together hold 32 seats, chances of the two fronts coming together to keep the BJP out of power are grim especially considering the implications of such a development on state politics. While, the BJP emerged the dominant force in the 15 town wards located around the Poornathrayeesa temple, the LDF and the UDF shared the 25 wards on the outskirts. The waterlogging of the arterial roads and the temple during the Vrishchikotsavam triggered outrage against the LDF regime just days ahead of election, which is believed to have worked in favour of the BJP. The results are disappointing. We are not keen to wrest power with support of the UDF, said CPM leader S Madhusoodanan. We will stake the claim and deliver good governance, said BJP leader K V S Haridas.
Kerala local body poll results: Kanniyamma scripts a rare political comeback in Idukki
IDUKKI: Kanniyamma Alakarswami may have only won the Kanthalloor panchayat election by the narrowest of margins (13 votes), but the victory could not be any more profound. Having secured the peoples mandate here is also indicative of the fact that they have now embraced Kanniyamma, who was expelled years ago from the Muthuvan community for defying tribal customs. Contesting on a Congress ticket, the 60-year-old won 191 votes and pipped BJP candidate Anitha C, who managed only 178 votes. CPIs Meenakshi came a distant third with 90 votes. I am happy that people trusted me again, Kanniyamma told TNIE . This victory shows that work and sincerity matter more than old divisions. Indeed, the victory marked a rare political comeback in the high range, where social customs have a gravity as heavy as the mountains that dot the region. It was the death of her first-born during childbirth and the near loss of another daughter to a snakebite whilst living in Edamalakkudy, a settlement without access to hospitals, that forced Kanniyamma to rethink long-held customs. The ensuing fracturing of the relationship with the community manifested in the physical when she and her family moved to Susannakkudi, a place also within the tribal fold. However, the final rupture came when her elder daughter married a man from Bihar, an act considered a serious breach of Mutuvan traditions. The family was thus forced to move again, and so they did: to Kanthalloor. Here, Kanniyamma remained active in public life, even as she remained socially excluded from her community. Serving as a local body member, she persistently engaged with tribal families. Ahead of the polls, Kanniyamma told TNIE about this heartening change. The community that once ostracised us now cooperates with us. Rigid community systems are changing with time, she said.
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Four of six former MLAs win in Kerala local body polls
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Six former MLAs who stepped back into electoral politics through the local body polls this time delivered a mixed verdict for their parties, combining clear wins, narrow margins and close defeats. Drawing on long legislative and grassroots experience, four candidates won, while two fell short by slim margins. Former legislators R Lathadevi, K C Rajagopal, K S Sabarinadhan and Anil Akkara secured wins in their respective wards and divisions, while A V Gopinathan and E M Augusthy tasted defeat. Among the winners, CPIs R Lathadevi registered the most decisive victory, winning the Chadayamangalam division of the Kollam district panchayat by a margin of 26,546 votes. Calling the win a fresh start, Lathadevi said, I will begin by understanding the welfare needs and strengths of the area. UDFs K S Sabarinadhan, who contested from the Kowdiar ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, won by 1,235 votes. Anil Akkara won the Sanskrit College ward of Adat grama panchayat in Thrissur district by 655 votes and veteran leader K C Rajagopal secured a narrow win of 324 votes from the Maramon ward of Mezhuveli grama panchayat in Pathanamthitta district. Among the winners, CPIs R Lathadevi registered the most decisive victory.
Pulikkakandam family to determine the ruling front in Pala municipality
KOTTAYAM: In the high-profile electoral contest in Pala municipality, the Pulikkakandam family has emerged as a decisive force in determining who will rule the council this time. As the results of the local body elections were announced on Saturday, three members of the family, who contested as independents, achieved a surprising victory over established political parties. Binu Pulikkakandam, former councillor of CPM, his brother Biju Pulikkakandam and Binus daughter Diya Binu have won from ward 13, 14 and 15 respectively. Both UDF and LDF have approached us with offers. However, we have not made a decision yet We will take a decision after consulting with the voters in our wards, who gave us the victory, Binu told TNIE . Binu, a businessman-turned-politician, has been a councillor for the past 20 years. Having worked with various political parties, Binu said he had encountered the limitations imposed by party affiliations when striving for regional development. He began his political journey through the KSU(I), the students wing of Congress and later worked with Democratic Indian Congress (Kerala), a splinter group led by K Karunakaran. Once a close confidant of Congress leader K Muraleedharan, Binu joined BJP in 2015 and later contested as CPM candidate in the 2020 election. While Biju had an unsuccessful contest to Pala municipality in 2010, it is the first electoral contest for 21-year-old Diya, an Economics graduate from Madras Christian College, Chennai.
Kerala local body poll results: Waqf effect? Munambam switches to NDA
KOCHI: That local issues often triumph over party affiliations in the electoral battlefield is evident from the results of the latest round of polls in Munambam Kadappuram ward of Pallippuram panchayat, where LDF gained power with 13 seats, while UDF got only 9. Traditionally a UDF citadel, which had been a sure-shot seat for Congress for many years, the ward shifted its allegiance to BJP this election after the voters became disillusioned with their peoples representatives who failed to stand with them in times of need. Other factors that contributed to the NDA candidates win included the religious polarisation caused by the waqf issue. This is also the first time that the BJP fielded a candidate in the ward. In the 2020 local body election, Munambam Kadappuram had voted the Congress candidate to victory. Then, the NDA won just one seat in the panchayat the Public Library ward. This time, the NDA has doubled its tally with wins in Samoohya Sevasangham and Munambam Kadappuram wards. Though UDF managed to increase its seats in Pallippuram panchayat from 7 in 2020 to 9 in 2025, the loss of Munambam-Kadappuram points to the angst of the residents and the ire that they harbour towards the front. One thing that worked for BJP was its open support for the residents struggle against the waqf claim on their land. They highlight how their cause received national attention after the NDA government at the Centre made the issue the focal point while drawing up the Waqf (Amendment) Act. This is also the first time that the BJP fielded a candidate in the ward. Though the residents were appreciative of LDFs efforts, like the setting up of the Judicial Commission and measures taken to restore revenue rights, the general perception in the region was that backing the BJP candidate would work in their favour since NDA is in power at the Centre. Going by the votes polled by the NDA and LDF candidates, voters appear to have been swayed by the measures initiated by both fronts, with the victory margin being a narrow 28. While NDA candidate Kunjumon Augustine polled 582 votes, LDFs Rocky Binoy came a close second with 551 votes. The casualty this election was the UDF. The residents of Munambam Kadappuram were pretty clear about where they leant. They held the Congress guilty of being the catalyst for their troubles through the Waqf Act, 1995.
Kerala local body poll results: Kozhikode mayoral aspirants fall as BJP posts gains
KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode corporation election results delivered major political jolts on multiple fronts, with both the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF suffering unexpected defeats in key wards, even as BJP emerged as a decisive gainer by capturing several strategically and politically significant divisions. LDF won 34 of the 76 seats, while the UDF bagged 26 and NDA, 13. In one of the most striking outcomes, LDF mayoral candidate and incumbent deputy mayor C P Musafar Ahmed was defeated in Ward 39, Meenchanda. Musafar, a senior CPM leader and son of former Kozhikode South MLA C P Kunju, was considered a strong contender in what the LDF had projected as a prestige battle. However, UDF candidate S K Abubacker secured a decisive victory, dealing a severe blow to the ruling fronts mayoral ambitions. Meenchanda ward had undergone complete delimitation ahead of the election. Large portions of the former Payyanakkal ward where Musafar had first been elected councillor in 2010 and where LDF had earlier enjoyed a comfortable margin of 713 votes were merged into the newly formed ward, Mavoor road. LDF had expected this restructuring to work in its favour. However, the calculations failed, reversing the BJPs narrow 130-vote victory in the previous election and instead handing the seat to the UDF. UDF too faced a setback with the defeat of its mayoral candidate KPCC general secretary P M Niyas, who contested from Paroppadi division. The BJP candidate Harish Pottammal emerged victorious there, underscoring the partys growing footprint in urban Kozhikode. While the LDF and UDF grapple with the fallout of losing key leaders and mayoral hopefuls, the BJPs ability to penetrate wards historically dominated by both fronts points to a clear shift in urban voter sentiment. Meenchanda ward had undergone complete delimitation ahead of the election.
UDF storms Kochi Corporation leaving LDF tottering at a historic low
LDF bit the dust, managing to win only 20 seats, in addition to two seats where it supported Independents; BJP improved its tally by just one seat, reaching six, despite its claim that it would hit double digits in the election
Kerala local body poll results: After intense drama, UDF retains control of Kannur corporation
KANNUR: After a period marked by intense political drama and open threat from rebel factions, the UDF has retained control of Kannur corporation by securing victories in 36 of 56 divisions. The days following the declaration of the election date were fraught with uncertainty, as internal divisions surfaced within the front. Adding to the tension was the challenge from a group led by a former development standing committee chairman and Congress rebel, raising serious concerns about possible defections. For a time, these developments created a real possibility that the balance of power could tilt in favour of the LDF. However, despite the mounting pressure, the UDF ultimately claimed victory, ensuring its continued leadership of the corporation. In the 2020 local body elections, the UDF secured control of the corporation by winning 34 seats, while the LDF claimed victory in 19 divisions and the NDA managed to win just one. This election, the UDF strengthened its position, increasing its tally to 36 divisions. LDFs presence declined, with the front managing to win only 15 divisions. NDA expands footprint, SDPI makes debut Meanwhile, the NDA made notable gains, winning four divisions and establishing a stronger presence in the corporation. NDA secured victories in Kokkenpara, the Temple division, and the Thulicheri division. The front also retained the Pallikunnu division, a seat it had won for the first time in the 2020 election. The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has marked its entry into the corporation by securing victory in the Arakkal division. The partys candidate, Sameera K, won the seat with 1,643 votes, defeating IUML candidate K M Sabeera, who got 1,589 votes. Taking on rebels Despite repeated appeals and discussions by the leadership of the INC and the IUML, three candidates chose to contest the local body election as rebels against official UDF nominees, intensifying the contest. In the Varam division, a rebel candidate took on IUML district vice-president K P Tahir. Another rebel entered the fray in the Adikadalayi division against KPCC member Rijil Chandran Makkutty, while a third contested in the Payyambalam division against Indira P, former deputy mayor. However, the UDF managed secure victories in all three wards. Meanwhile, K K Ragesh, CPM district secretary admitted that the final outcome was unexpected and added that the party would review the results in due course.
Kerala local body poll results: In Kerala Congress battle, P J Joseph trumps Jose K Mani
KOTTAYAM: In the local body elections that drew attention due to the rivalry between the Kerala Congress factions in Central Travancore, the P J Joseph faction has made notable progress under the wings of the UDF, while the Kerala Congress (M) suffered an unexpected setback in its strongholds. With the LDF being pushed to the side in the region in the UDF wave that swept through the state, the KC (M) -- currently an LDF constituent -- suffered a huge setback in its fortress, losing power in several local bodies including Pala municipality. Their win percentage has dropped significantly compared to the 2020 polls. Having joined the LDF shortly before the last local body elections, KC (M) contested 960 wards and secured victories in over 500 then. This time, after extensive coalition deliberations and preparations, they contested 1,026 wards but managed to win only 243. We accept the peoples mandate. However, we wont change our political stand to gain power in any of the local bodies. We will examine thoroughly the reasons for the defeat, KC (M) chairman Jose K Mani told reporters. KC (M) also lost power in various grama panchayats such as Kadanad, Karur, Kidangoor, Ramapuram, and Meenachil, among others. Meanwhile, Kerala Congress (Joseph) -- which contested in around 650 wards across the state -- won 332 wards this time. They also managed to gain power in Kottayam and Idukki district panchayat in collaboration with the UDF. In Kottayam district panchayat, four out of seven candidates the party fielded emerged victorious. Despite challenges, Kerala Congress splinter groups continue to maintain a stronghold in Central Travancore. The UDF wrested back power in Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta district panchayats from the LDF, which is a resounding victory. The triumph of the UDF candidates in Central Travancore is a reflection of the Left fronts political collapse and administrative failure, said Mons Joseph, executive chairman of the party. In its more than six decades-long history, the Kerala Congress party has experienced several splits, mergers, switching of political allegiance and generational shifts. Despite these challenges, Kerala Congress splinter groups continue to maintain a stronghold in Central Travancore, especially among Christian communities. This enduring influence has made the Kerala Congress factions increasingly acceptable to all political fronts, making them a political force to be reckoned with.
Kerala local body poll results: Twenty20 loses Kunnathunad panchayat, several of its sitting seats
KOCHI: Twenty20, the CSR-backed party, suffered a setback in the local body elections, losing Kunnathunad panchayat and several sitting seats. Launched in 2013, the Kizhakkambalam Twenty20 party -- riding high on expectations after promising change -- disrupted mainstream politics in the state after winning four panchayats in the 2020 local body elections. This time, while retaining Aikaranad, Mazhuvannoor and Kizhakkambalam, Twenty20 won 9 of the 18 seats in Thiruvaniyoor panchayat. Despite contesting in 48 panchayats and three municipalities, besides Kochi corporation, the party won only a few seats outside its strongholds, securing one seat in Thrikkakara municipality and six seats each in Vengola and Puthencruz panchayats in Ernakulam district. Twenty20s campaign focused on promises of good roads, food security markets, welfare schemes and safe drinking water, and positioned itself as an alternative to traditional political fronts. Political activity is a long-term process. Parties need clear positions on social and cultural issues and a strong organisational base. Twenty20 lacks these elements. However, retaining three panchayats and creating a base in other panchayats are still satisfactory performances, said D Dhanuraj, founder of the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR). While retaining Aikaranad, Mazhuvannoor and Kizhakkambalam, Twenty20 won 9 of the 18 seats in Thiruvaniyoor panchayat. Meanwhile, Twenty20 chief coordinator Sabu Jacob said the people have rejected the unholy alliance of 25 parties formed by the left and right parties in Kizhakkambalam to defeat Twenty20 loyalists. The party contested alone against all the parties and fronts in Kerala and managed to secure a good vote share in every seat it contested. We also received a good vote share in Kochi corporation. The corruption-free development drive put forward by the Twenty20 party will continue, he said. In Poothrikka and Vengola, the party won seven and six seats respectively, while securing a seat in Manakkad panchayat in Kottayam district. As many as 56 candidates were fielded in Kochi corporation, where the party polled a total of 9,300 votes, with 483 in Chalikkavattom being the highest vote tally.
Kerala local body poll results: Pinarayis invincibility myth breaks as LDF strategy falters
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For the LDF, the defeat in the local body election represents a fall from the political height the CPM had reached over a decade. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, long considered unassailable, now faces questions over his political invincibility. CPM state secretary M V Govindan would also face some tough questions over his capabilities in organising the party machinery. The UDF secured a sweeping mandate across both rural and urban areas, reflecting widespread voter dissatisfaction with the LDF government. The verdict is a strong sign of anti-incumbency against the government, said political analyst Ajith Sreenivasan. The LDF treated peoples sentiments with contempt. Their focus on a third term exposed faultlines within the CPM and the government, he said. The LDF, which previously held five corporations, could retain only one this time. For the first time since 2010, when UDF registered a landslide victory in local bodies, LDF lost influence in grama panchayats, block panchayats, and municipalities. The only consolation for the CPM is its victory in seven district panchayats, which is proof of the partys enduring political base. Having been in power for almost a decade, the LDF failed to leverage the advantages of incumbency. Large-scale development projects and the last-minute welfare measures, announced just days before the election declaration by the CM in the form of a mini budget did not sway voters. Welfare pensions or kits did not deliver the LDFs historic win in 2021, said a social observer. Despite Christian communitys bonhomie with the BJP, the results in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kottayam and Idukki indicate the return of Christian votes to UDF. The setback in Kottayam will pose a question on Kerala Congress (M)s credibility. The result also shows that the Sabarimala gold theft issue worked as a catalyst in the anti-incumbency factor.
Kerala local body poll results: Satheesans calculus, LDF slip and UDF wave
KOCHI: When V D Satheesan, Leader of the Opposition, stepped off the Vande Bharat at Ernakulam South railway station on Saturday evening, the reception was telling. Jubilant Congress workers and leaders, led by MP Hibi Eden, MLA T J Vinod and DCC president Mohammed Shiyas, welcomed him with sweets. It marked the arrival of a leader who had just overseen one of the most decisive local body performances in Keralas political history by the Congress-led UDF. Satheesan arrived in Kochi around 7pm from the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, as celebrations continued across Congress camps following the sweeping verdict. Earlier in the day, speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, he credited the triumph to Team UDF. Yet, beneath the rhetoric of collective effort lay a series of hard political choices and shifting social alignments that reshaped Keralas electoral map. The scale of UDFs victory is unprecedented. The front swept 505 of 941 grama panchayats, 79 of 152 block panchayats, seven of 14 district panchayats, 54 of 87 municipalities, and four of six corporations. In 2020, the UDF managed to win just one corporation and 41 municipalities, while trailing the CPM-led LDF across every tier. The reversal is stark and historically rare. An uncompromising political line has marked Satheesans tenure as LoP. His unapologetic tie-up with the Jamaat e-Islami Hind-backed Welfare Party and his handling of controversies such as the case involving rape-accused MLA Rahul Mamkootathil drew sharp criticism. Yet, electorally, these decisions did not hurt the UDF. Instead, the front benefited from a consolidation of Muslim votes, particularly in north Kerala, driven by its key ally, the Indian Union Muslim League. Central Travancore told a similar story. Traditional Christian and Muslim bastions largely held firm, delivering sweep-like results across districts that had shown signs of drift in recent elections. Equally decisive was the erosion within LDFs base. Negative voting against the Left played a major role, with issues such as the Sabarimala gold theft controversy hurting Hindu sentiments. A senior Left leader privately conceded that the issue caused damage, while the Mamkootathil controversy failed to yield any political dividends for the LDF. Crucially, the long-held assumption in Kerala that the rise of the BJP would primarily eat into the UDF vote was turned on its head. This time, BJPs gains came largely at the expense of the LDF. Ezhava voters, particularly in regions such as Kayamkulam, Mavelikkara and Attingal, showed a visible shift away from the CPM, while sections of Christian voters also gravitated towards the saffron party in select pockets. Political economist D Dhanuraj, founder-chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research, attributes the outcome to a potent mix of anti-incumbency and voter disengagement within the Left. The larger question is sustainability. With the assembly elections just months away, can the UDF carry this momentum into 2026? Congress leaders believe the perception of an impending return to power could pull back Christians who have been cautiously warming up to the BJP.
Kerala local body poll results: Congress headquarters marks resurgence
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At the KPCC office in Thiruvananthapuram, Saturdays local body poll results felt like a reward long in coming. The Congress headquarters exuded joy as screens lit up with numbers that turned favourable after 15 years. As the results settled, supporters thronged the corridors with sweets, handshakes and unguarded laughter. Since the 2010 local body elections, the UDF had repeatedly fallen short in both assembly and local polls. Victories were largely limited to the Lok Sabha. However, Saturdays mandate marked a decisive break from that pattern. KPCC president Sunny Joseph described the verdict as the outcome of collective effort within the front. Thanking party leaders, workers, the public and the media, he said the whole party had worked as one. While the party had expected a win, the scale of public support exceeded expectations. It is a strong rejection of the LDF governments anti-people policies, Sunny Joseph told reporters. Terming the local body elections a semifinal, Sunny showed confidence in the road ahead, predicting a decisive UDF victory in the forthcoming assembly polls. The governments policies and conduct had been exposed early. Controversies like attempt to remove (UDF Muttada candidate) Vyshnas name, assault on a retired teacher in Kannur, and unscientific ward delimitation backfired on the LDF. This is an indication of the public mood ahead of the assembly elections, he said. The Congress state president also accused the government of double standards in implementing its promises and neglecting coastal regions. He also raised criticism over the Sabarimala gold smuggling case. Commenting on BJPs victory in Thiruvananthapuram corporation, which is a result that has the potential to steal the UDFs thunder, senior Congress leader Hassan said the UDF has improved significantly on its previous performance. He alleged that a CPM-BJP nexus had enabled the BJPs win in the capital, even as the UDF secured more seats compared to the last elections.
Kerala local body poll results: Amid shocked silence at AKG Centre, calls for reflection
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The silence at the headquarters of the largest cadre party in the state was palpable around Saturday afternoon, as disappointing election results poured in. The loss of four district panchayats, four corporations and nearly 200 grama panchayats had dented the spirits of party activists at AKG Centre. Speaking to mediapersons, LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the BJP coming to power in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation should not be trivialised. We will examine the result in detail and take corrective measures, if necessary, he said. The setback is likely to be taken up at the party secretariat meeting on Monday, which would also be attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, sources said. What was particularly shocking was the loss of Thiruvananthapuram corporation and four district panchayats. We expected a triangular fight in Thiruvananthapuram corporation. As triangular fights generally tend to end in a pro-Left position, we were sure of our victory. We are yet to evaluate what went wrong, a party official said. Even the Sabarimala row did not have an impact in Thiruvananthapuram corporation, the source added. General Education Minister and former mayor V Sivankutty had expected the LDF to sweep the corporation by securing over 75 seats. Another concern is the performance in grama panchayats, where we fell from 582 in 2020 to around 340 this year, the official added.
Kerala local body polls: IUML has its way as CPM slips on Muslim pitch
KOZHIKODE: The local body election results have proved that CPMs alienation among the Muslim community in Kerala is complete even as the IUML retained the reins of the community. IUMLs thumping victory in Malappuram and UDFs impressive performance in Muslim-dominated areas in Malabar show that the CPM has lost its confidence among the minority community. The continual communally-coloured statements from CPM leaders and the partys endorsement of the irresponsible comments by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan against the Muslim community played a major role in sealing the fate of the party in Muslim-dominated areas. The UDF succeeded in exposing CPMs gameplan of targeting the UDF-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance as a mere plot to attract Hindu votes. The CPM had no answer when UDF leaders pointed out the partys past understanding with the Jamaat. There is a feeling within the LDF that there was an overdose of the Jamaat content in the partys campaign, which served only to give visibility to an organisation supported by a negligible segment of the Muslim community. CPMs move to single out Congress leader Shafi Parambil, MP, also smacked of a communal campaign. When Rahul Mamkootathil got embroiled in the rape case, CPM social media handles were baying for Shafis blood, saying that it was the Vadakara MP who protected the accused. During electioneering, the LDF had resorted to dangerously divisive communal politics. The electorate ultimately rejected that approach. The public had been suffering under the Pinarayi government for the past ten years, a sentiment that had become one of the most widely discussed issues in the state. Adding to this discontent was the Sabarimala issue, which further alienated large sections of society, said P K Kunhalikutty, IUML national general secretary. Welfare Party of India state president Razak Paleri said the CPM had played the Hindutva politics of the BJP to win the elections. The party had tried to win majority communities votes by throwing the names of Jamaat-e-Islami and Hizbul Mujahideen and creating a Muslim fear. But the people of Kerala have completely rejected the campaign, Paleri said.
Loss in Thiruvananthapuram corporation sparks debate within CPM
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Close on the heels of the LDFs humiliating defeat in the city corporation, in-fighting began within the district CPM. Taking a cue from the rough exchanges between senior leaders within the partys district committee, a young leader too came out against the outgoing council led by Mayor Arya Rajendran. City councils outgoing standing committee chairperson Gayathri Babu took a dig at Arya through a Facebook post. Stating that the corporation used to hold the Left front close during testing times, she wrote that the previous mayors and their teams could boldly walk to any corner of the corporation and maintain the life-bond with the voters. Instead of having a larger-than-party attitude, disdainful behaviour to those in the lower rungs of power, over-humility before those in the higher echelons of power, and turning ones office into a caucus for their career building, moves should have been done to engage with people who waited outside the room, considerate to the demands raised by local leaders, and develop a good team within the council, which would have at least given a setback with a lower magnitude than this, Gayathri said in the post, which she took down in an hour. Citing the LDF lead in other local bodies, she noted that nothing has fallen short from the side of the partys ground work. On the other hand, the seats in which the party won were due to the personal bonds candidates shared with the voters, she added. Meanwhile, the CPM leadership rejected the young leaders open criticism. We do not agree with such posts. What should be told within the party should be said here, and what should be told to the public must be done so, said state secretary M V Govindan. S P Deepak (LDF), Petta ward winner, meeting V V Rajesh (NDA), Venganoor ward winner. The day after the first phase of elections, leaders V Joy and Karamana Hari had a face-off in the district committee meeting, held in the presence of Govindan. Ex-minister Kadakampally Surendran too faced allegations of favouritism in candidate selection. Comments about Aryas immature behaviour, critical lapses found by the audit report, the social media debates surrounding the credibility of the international recognition won by the corporation issues for backlashes were plenty for the CPM-led council. The worst part of CPMs backfire was the clear lead BJP gained in the corporation and not a triangular fight LDF getting reduced to 29 seats from 51, and BJP rising to 50 from 34 was an unprecedented result. What appeared to be one of the boldest experiments fielding one of its youngest councillors as the mayor of a key corporation backfired for the left front. Negative public image around Arya Rajendran, including the issue with the KSRTC driver in the middle of a road in the capital city, was accelerated by BJPs campaign. To drive away the Kid-Mayor and her kin... was one of the key announcements of the BJP Many of the campaign tools of CPM failed miserably, including its eagerness to focus on the suicides of two BJP leaders. The saffron party registered an authentic win of 886 votes in Thirumala ward, where the previous BJP councillor died by suicide after blaming the party. In the Thrikkannapuram ward, where a young leader committed suicide after being denied a seat, CPM managed to win purely based on the personal bonds of the candidate.
Victory margins tell the story of UDF dominance
LDF consolidates dominance in Kannur district; UDF, BJP, SDPI post gains
The most striking outcome was in Anthoor municipality, where the LDF registered a clean sweep by winning all the 29 wards, several by huge margins
BJP-led NDA makes it big in Thripunithura
The party served as the principal Opposition in the temple town, dislodging the UDF in the last two terms since 2015. It wins 21 seats in the polls to stake claim to power in the 53-member civic body. TheLDFbags 20 seats and the Congress-led front 12 seats.
One-vote margin decides fate of Karingari ward in Wayanad
Senior journalist G. Vinod passes away
Congress hails historic mandate; LDF, BJP to probe setbacks in Kochi
Local body poll results signal shift in Kerala politics: BJP leader Prakash Javadekar
Mr. Javadekar said the outcome in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation was not an ordinary result
Anti-incumbency dashes Lefts hopes in local body polls in Kerala
The rout of the Left is more pronounced nKottayam,Idukki,ErnakulamandMalappuram districts, which are old citadels of the UDF. Urban voters have turned their back on the Left
LDFs organisational strength in Kannur intact: K.K. Ragesh
A 2017 rape case in Kerala's film industry has ignited a powerful movement for women's rights. Despite a recent court verdict clearing actor Dileep, public outrage and support for the survivor are immense. This has spurred systemic changes, including new funds and committees. Kerala's film professionals are creating their own vocabulary for change, demonstrating a significant shift in the industry.
Left out, BJP wins Thiruvananthapuram
The BJP has secured a significant victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation polls. This win marks a major boost for the party's efforts in Kerala. The BJP won 50 out of 100 seats, surpassing previous results. This outcome signals a shift in Kerala's political landscape.
AAP Carves Out Space In Kerala Politics:3 Women Candidates Win In Local Body Polls
The Aam Aadmi Party had fielded candidates in around 380 seats across the state, focusing on over 400 panchayats and four corporations
Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday congratulated Beena Kurian, Sini Antony and Smitha Luke on their victory in the Kerala local body elections, calling it a reflection of the growing trust of the people in the party's politics of honesty and public service.
DYFI leader, sentenced in bomb attack case, wins poll from jail
Landslide victory helps UDF cushion blow from Congress rebels in Kochi
Tractor rams into pilgrims in Sabarimala
UDF notches up gains in block and grama panchayats
UDF puts up an impressive show across three-tier panchayats in Ernakulam
SC saves Karate teacher from arrest in POCSO case filed by former student
Interim protection granted despite denial of anticipatory bail by trial court and High Court
