Thiruvananthapuram’s upcoming local body elections have taken an unexpected turn.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) now faces a sharp internal shake‑up as two key CPI‑M leaders—Annie Ashokan from Chembazhanthi and K.V. Mohanan of Vazhotukonam—have announced they will run as independents after the party denied them tickets.
In the tightly organized CPI‑M, such public dissent is rare. These leaders say the party sidelined them to make room for other candidates, a decision they claim was part of a hidden arrangement with the BJP. Ashokan blames senior MLA Kadakampally Surendran for pulling the strings, saying “Kadakampally has always fielded weak candidates to help the BJP win.” She added that her exclusion is a deliberate move to benefit the BJP in certain wards.
Ashokan, who led the Kazhakkoottam Block Panchayat from 2004 to 2010, claimed she has faced discrimination inside the CPI‑M. “After three decades of loyalty, the leadership ignored my work and buried every complaint I raised,” she said. “I’m forced to rebel now.”
Mohanan, a former branch secretary, echoed the disappointment. Both men say they will contest the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation election as independents, a decision that signals cracks inside the LDF coalition.
The rebellion comes just weeks before polling in the 101‑seat capital’s corporation. The stakes are high: the Left, BJP and Congress‑led UDF (United Democratic Front) are all vying for a controlling majority. The LDF’s image may suffer, as the CPI‑M’s turmoil could weaken its credibility. Meanwhile, Congress officials are quick to seize the story, accusing the CPI‑M of a “secret understanding” with the BJP.
Observers warn that the unrest may spread beyond Chembazhanthi and Vazhotukonam. Reports suggest another CPI‑M member in Ulloor is considering an independent run, hinting at further fragmentation of the LDF front.
As Kerala’s political landscape shifts, residents of Thiruvananthapuram will watch closely. Will the LDF rally its base in time? Will the independent ticket holders sway the vote? The answer will shape Kerala’s civic governance for the next year.
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