kozhikode News

CAT Result 2025 News Live: Where, how to check IIM CAT scorecard online when released

IIM Kozhikode has not yet announced the CAT 2025 results. The exam took place on November 30, 2025. The answer key was released on December 4, and objections were accepted until December 10.

Rooted in romanticism and shaped by journeys

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Artist Subin Abrahams paintings are rooted in memories, emotions and self-reflection. And his latest solo exhibition, Sole on the Soil, on display at Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan, stands as a testament to that. The exhibition brings together paintings that represent the natural world and the essence of village life. Though Subin portrays the realities and hardships of rural life, they appear nostalgic and serene. Maybe he was trying to convey, the hardship behind the idyllic. A sense of quiet melancholy runs through most of his paintings, reflecting what the artist calls a personal take on the Indian village life. Subin says he is strongly moved by the ideals of romanticism and the Barbizon school of art, particularly by the works of Vincent van Gogh, Jean-Francois Millet and John Constable. For him, these paintings are not merely scenery but something that has to be paid off with a emotional connection. Drawing from both personal memory and artistic traditions, his works try to articulate a connection between rural life and nature, always away from the chaos of busy city life. Subin has returned to painting after a hiatus of around five years, following his previous exhibition in Kozhikode in 2018. During those days, he used to work as an art teacher in a school and took on freelance assignments that came his way. Quoting Henry David Thoreau he notes, I would often find myself sitting quietly, pondering this marvel called life. For him, painting is a personal activity, born out of his many travels across the country. It is from this wanderings that Sole on the soil was born. The title, he says, implies his way of realistically portraying nature. And it is a way to bring his thoughts and feelings to the light. Most of the paintings at the exhibition emerged from his observations during travels and everyday, mundane encounters he made in the villages. I am always a person who loves to visit different places and meet the people who live there. It is not just about enjoying the architectural and aesthetic beauty of a place, he says. His works bring back an element of the classical to the Renaissance, especially the pastoral paintings that were prominent in the 18th century. It is not just the West, Subin is equally fascinated by the 10th to 14th century Chinese paintings, where landscapes are spellbinding in their beauty. However, he adds, Indian art does not have landscape painting traditions compared to the West or China. Instead, nature often appears as a miniature element supporting the Mughal and Pahari paintings, he informs. Through his works, Subin is attempting to engage the audience with nature as a central emotional space. Apart from the village beauty, the last session of the exhibition also portrays a few rough sketches capturing the lives of fisherfolk in rural Thiruvananthapuram. They are from real-life observations. A product of visits to the coastal areas that left deep imprints on my mind. There is something common about the uncertainties faced by both the rural farmers and the fishermen, he says. That is why he wants to concentrate on the realities faced by the fisherfolk in Kerala in future. The exhibition concludes on December 24.

Kozhikode: Beypore set to host international water fest from December 26

KOZHIKODE: Beypore is preparing for three days of colour, competition and coastal celebration as the fifth edition of the Beypore International Water Festival will begin on December 26. The festival is spread across six locations in and around the historic port town in Kozhikode. One of the key highlights this year will be the international kite festival, which is expected to see participation from flyers representing five countries. The countdown to the festival will begin on December 25 with a cycle rally from Kozhikode city to Beypore. The closing day on December 28 will feature a marathon run from Chaliyam to Beypore. In the days leading up to the main event, a series of sports competitions have been scheduled with beach football tournament on Tuesday and beach volleyball on Wednesday. The football tournament will be inaugurated by MLA Linto Joseph at Beypore Beach at 5.30 pm. Eight teams each in the mens and womens categories will compete, with prize money of `12,000 for the winners and `8,000 for the runners-up. The festival will feature activities including kayaking, sailing, dragon boat races, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, jet skiing, flyboarding, dinghy races and traditional country boat competitions.

Kerala local body poll results: Congress, CPM consolidate position in strongholds

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress, that secured the highest vote share of 29.17% in the recently concluded local body election put up its best performance in its traditional strongholds such as Idukki, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta, going by the district-wise data released by the State Election Commission on Monday. The party clocked its highest vote share of 38.60% in Idukki followed by 37.34% in Ernakulam and 37.06% in Pathanamthitta. Malappuram, which is the bastion of its ally Muslim League saw the party registering a vote share of 16.81%. Kasaragod was the only other district where the Congress vote share fell below 20%. UDFs second biggest constituent the Indian Union Muslim League performed well in its stronghold Malappuram where it bagged 35.11% of votes. Its second best performance was in Kasaragod where it polled 17.93% of votes. The party also clocked a vote share of above 15% in Kozhikode. For the CPM, its bastion Kannur gave the party its highest vote share of 38.82%. The only other district where the party garnered above 30% votes was Palakkad (33.93%), closely followed by Thiruvananthapuram (29.40%) and Alappuzha (29.26%). Kerala local body polls: UDF makes history, sweeps panchayats, corporations; NDA secures Thiruvananthapuram The partys lowest vote share of 17.66% was registered in Kottayam. CPI, the second biggest constituent in the LDF, saw its vote share crossing the two digit mark in Kollam where it garnered 13.68% of the total votes polled. The party also performed well in Idukki where it registered a vote share of 9.09%. Two factions of the Kerala Congress the Kerala Congress (M) in the LDF camp and Kerala Congress in the UDF camp secured overall vote shares of 1.62% and 1.33% respectively in the civic polls. The Jose K Mani-led Kerala Congress (M) with 11.92% vote share in Kottayam bettered its rival the PJ Joseph-led Kerala Congress which had to settle at 9%. However, in Idukki, Kerala Congress with 8.21% vote share fared better than the KC(M) at 6.22%.

Kudumbashree makes big impact in local body elections, bags 7,210 seats

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kudumbashree workers delivered an impressive performance in the recently concluded local body elections, with 7,210 candidates emerging victorious across the state. The results highlight the growing political presence of the states flagship womens empowerment mission at the grassroots level. According to official figures, 17,082 Kudumbashree members contested the elections to grama, block and district panchayats, municipalities, and corporations. The winners were spread across all districts, reflecting widespread public support for candidates with a background in community development and local governance. Among the districts, Kozhikode recorded the most number of wins by Kudumbashree workers, with 709, followed by Malappuram (697), Thrissur (652), Palakkad (648) and Alappuzha (643). Members emerging victorious shows how closely they worked at the local level. The entry of Kudumbashree workers into elected local bodies will strengthen decentralised governance. They will place emphasis on inclusive development, social welfare and gender-sensitive initiatives, an official with the Kudumbashree Mission said.

Devotion helps Danish chart hearty comeback

KOZHIKODE: Life has come full circle for singer Mohammed Danish Malappuram, who after getting caught in the crossfire of controversy is now steadily reclaiming his space in Keralas devotional music landscape. A sound engineer and native of Padinjattumuri, Malappuram, Danish shot to fame and notoriety with the viral parody song Pottiye Kettiye Swarnam Chembayi Mattiye, inspired by the popular Swamiye Ayyappa chant. Written by Nadapuram-based expat G P Kunhabdulla Chalappuram, the take-off emerged as a powerful, cost-free campaign tool on social media. But the attention it drew was far from harmless. The song sparked intense public debate, accusations of hurting religious sentiments, and even a legal case. For Danish, the backlash was swift and deeply personal. Professional opportunities dried up, criticism mounted, and the singer found himself questioning his future in music. That phase tested me in every possible way, Danish recalls. There were days when I wondered whether music would still have a place in my life. Yet, time and faith appear to have rewritten his story. Today, Danish is back in the spotlight for reasons he never imagined during his darkest days. He is now busy lending his voice to Ayyappa devotional songs, with his first such recording dedicated to Sree Muthukurussikkavu Ayyappa temple. The temple committee has announced that the song will be played every morning as part of its daily rituals. Ironically, the very genre that once placed Danish at the centre of controversy has now become his bridge to renewal. His voice is now in demand for both traditional and contemporary Ayyappa bhajans, and other Hindu devotional songs, with many recognising a new emotional depth in his singing. This feels like a blessing, Danish says. To sing Ayyappa songs after everything that has happened feels like healing. Music has a way of correcting paths. Devotion is universal, he says. Whether its an Ayyappa song or any other religious hymn, the emotion is the same: Surrender, faith and hope. Fellow artists say Danishs journey mirrors a fragile reality in the age of viral fame and instant backlash. He has matured as a singer and as a person, says a composer who recently collaborated with him. Theres sincerity to his voice now that connects deeply with devotional music.

Kerala NEET PG counselling 2025 round 2 seat allotment result released at cee.kerala.gov.in: Direct link to download here

Kerala NEET PG counselling 2025 round 2 seat allotment results are out on cee.kerala.gov.in. Over 1,000 candidates secured postgraduate medical seats, with MD Radiodiagnosis and MD General Medicine at GMC Kozhikode being highly sought after. Those allotted must report by December 30 or opt for upgradation to retain their chances.

IIM CAT Results Date 2025: Scorecards expected soon at iimcat.ac.in; Check steps to download, past trends and more

IIM Kozhikode has released the CAT 2025 final answer key, with only one objection accepted. Candidates can now anticipate the release of their scorecards, marking the next step towards the Written Ability Test, Personal Interview, and Group Discussion stages of the admission process.

Cashing in! UPI transactions soar as Keralas digital aspirations take flight

KOCHI: Its a digi-tell all! In a clear pivot from cash, Kerala is increasingly taking to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) figures reveal that 444.9 million UPI transactions were processed in the state in November, marking a 29.6% year-on-year increase. The value of these transactions rose 28.6% to `59,793 crore. Per capita usage climbed to 12.7 transactions a month, up from 9.8 a year earlier, indicating not just wider adoption but also more frequent use. Over the past three years, rising merchant acceptance, expanding smartphone penetration and a sustained, state-supported push towards cashless behaviour have together reshaped everyday money interactions in Kerala. The states performance mirrors a broader national surge. An NPCI-Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report released at the Global Fintech Festival 2025 highlights the scale of UPIs expansion across India. As of August, the country had 504 million unique UPI users nearly half of the adult population and close to 65 million merchants accepting UPI payments. UPI now accounts for 84% of all digital retail payments, with monthly transaction run rates 34% higher than a year ago. Within this nationwide expansion, Kerala contributes around 4% of Indias total UPI transaction volumes, placing it between ninth and eleventh nationally, depending on the month. Larger states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu continue to dominate the top tier with double-digit share of the pie. In several pockets, UPI is already the default mode. In others, adoption is rising sharply, said Indraneel Ajitkumar Pandit, executive vice-president and chief digital officer, Federal Bank. Kerala stands out for its exceptional engagement among senior citizens, with digital literacy among the elderly reaching near-universal levels through systematic campaigns, he added. UPI-first state ESAF Small Finance Bank executive director George K John described Kerala as a true UPI-first state, citing women-led digital participation through Kudumbashree networks, senior-citizen digital literacy initiatives and near-universal merchant QR code adoption as defining features. In urban centres such as Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Thrissur, UPI penetration is close to universal, especially for small-ticket payments across retail, transport, healthcare, hospitality and education. Merchant acceptance is extremely high, with even micro-merchants routinely using QR codes, he pointed out. According to Madhavankutty G, chief economist, Canara Bank, Keralas broader socio-economic profile also plays a role. It is a state with a high degree of consumerism. Banking penetration is very high, implying the number of bank accounts per capita is well above the national average, he said. High levels of urbanisation and internet penetration further support digital payments, while the large migrant workforce using UPI to send money to home states adds to transaction volumes, he added. Indraneel also pointed to the growing link between digital payments and credit growth. Studies show that business loan growth has a strong correlation with UPI adoption. Districts recording over 100% UPI growth reported a 4.2 times higher CAGR in business loans, he said. EMI collections and debt repayments through UPI have doubled over the past two years, underlining the rise of high-value and recurring transactions on the platform.

With fewer stops and higher earnings, KSRTC premium fleet drives revenue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC has shifted into high gear with its premier revenue earners, particularly the new premium superfast AC services that stop at fewer stations and generate higher earnings per kilometre (EPKM). Despite operating on fewer routes, the premium services have significantly boosted collections. KSRTC recorded its highest-ever single-day revenue of Rs 11.53 crore on December 15, nearly Rs 3 crore more than last year. Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar attributed the rise to improved operational efficiency, highlighting the strong performance of premium services. Though premium AC buses account for a small share of the fleet -- only 60 are currently in service -- they contribute disproportionately due to higher fares and strong demand. The fleet is set to expand further, with 120 new buses to be inducted soon. While KSRTC has not implemented a general fare hike, premium superfast services levy a 5% surcharge over regular superfast buses. To make the service more attractive, running time has been reduced and passenger amenities improved. Compared to regular superfast services, the number of stops has been cut by more than half. On National Highways, stops were reduced from 107 to 44, while on MC Road they came down from 108 to 46. Fewer stops have also helped cut fuel costs. According to official estimates, each bus station visit consumes 3-4 litres of diesel. Services such as the Lightning Express, which stop at only one location per district, have emerged as major revenue earners. These measures have reflected positively on EPKM. Before the Covid pandemic, KSRTCs EPKM stood at Rs 38.56. By August 2025, it had risen to Rs 49.58. To further improve earnings, KSRTC has reduced idle buses in garages and reviewed operations on less profitable routes. Services covering nearly 50,000km were modified to enhance revenue, while an additional 36,000km were discontinued. All 93 depots have been assigned revenue targets, which are closely monitored by the chairman and managing director, an official said. Further optimisation is planned with the rollout of an AI-powered schedule management system next year. Payroll, HRMS and fuel ERP systems will be integrated with the new platform. Launched a year ago, the premium superfast AC services have proven profitable, earning daily profits of around Rs 10,000 per bus. Encouraged by the response, KSRTC has steadily increased the fleet from an initial 10 buses to plans for nearly 200. The services currently operate on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram-Palakkad routes. KSRTC has also added fast passenger, superfast, fast passenger link, sleeper and seater-cum-sleeper services to its fleet.

Newly elected Kozhikode Corporation councillors take oath

Violations at entry, exit points endanger traffic flow on Kozhikode bypass road

East Hill Road, where iconic road roller scene was shot, mourns the loss of Sreenivasan

KOZHIKODE: As Kerala mourns the passing of veteran actor-filmmaker Sreenivasan on Saturday, for the residents of East Hill in Kozhikode, he will always be remembered was the man who turned their quiet neighbourhood into a lasting landmark of cinematic history. While the film fraternity honours his sharp satire and literary brilliance, the people of East Hill hold a special place for him as the creator of one of Malayalam cinemas most iconic comedic moments. The legendary scene from the film Vellanakalude Nadu , in which the late Kuthiravattom Pappus character famously struggles with repairing a road roller while uttering the now-immortal Thamarassery Churam dialogue, was shot on the Chungam-East Hill road. Even decades later, the location remains an unofficial pilgrimage site for film lovers. It has been more than 35 years since the film, but people still stop here when they pass by and take photos, says Thankamani Kammiliparambathu, whose house was used heroine Shobanas home in the film. Recalling Sreenivasans humility and dedication, Thankamani remembers the day the filmmaker arrived at her doorstep. Sreenivasan came to our house and directly asked if the house could be used for shooting. He visited two or three times after that and stayed here for around a month to write the script and shoot the scenes. Later, our house was used in Aye Auto also. But it was the Thamarassery Churam scene in Vellanakalude Nadu that became a super hit, she said. The family offered their home free of cost, a gesture that allowed them to share space with legends such as Mohanlal, Murali, and Kuthiravattom Pappu. That scene gave our home -- and this area -- its own identity, Thankamani says with pride. For local residents, Sreenivasans legacy is etched into the very geography of their daily lives. From the road roller spot to the nearby East Hill junction, which served as a location for the popular film Sandesam, the neighbourhood feels like a living museum of his work. To the people of East Hill, Sreenivasans legacy is woven into our streets and sorroundings, forever linking our homes to the timeless laughter he gifted the world, says Narendran Cholakulangara, a septuagenarian resident. As Sreenivasan is laid to rest, his spirit continues to live on in East Hill.

Gen Z and the fading Christmas, New Year card tradition

Vendors selling Christmas cards in Kozhikode are no longer able to drive sales as they once did, as a significant shift in gifting habits has occurred due to the generational gap

BJP gains in city, fails to make a mark in rural Kozhikode

The party could not improve its tally in municipalities and could win only 17 of the 1,343 wards in 70 grama panchayats

Multi-crore online fraud: Crime Branch squad in search of 20 more suspects

Police confirm the involvement of a big racket behind the fraud in which many job seekers from the rural areas of Kozhikode district were cheated.

CAT 2025 Result at iimcat.ac.in LIVE: When will results be announced? Know how to check scorecard, cut off

IIM Kozhikode will soon release the CAT 2025 result of 2.58 lakh candidates at the iimcat.ac.in. Check here latest and live updates on CAT exam result 2025 including cut offs, toppers and IIM selection criteria here:

CAT Result 2025: Check the expected date, percentile criteria and steps to download scorecard at iimcat.ac.in

CAT 2025 Result: IIM Kozhikode has released the CAT 2025 final answer key, with results expected between December 19 and December 29, 2025 on iimcat.ac.in. This follows the submission and evaluation of 187 objections, with only one challenge accepted. Candidates can now anticipate the release of their scorecards, paving the way for the next stages of the selection process.

Take in rustic life: Vadakkanadu farmers novel idea to guard the crops a big hit

KOCHI: For urbanites, who want an escape from the fast and restless city life, it is a rare opportunity to recharge and rejuvenate. Enjoy the cool breeze, blend with nature, and share space with singing birds, squirrels and monkeys. If lucky, you can also sight marauding wild elephants. The novel idea launched by the farmers of Vadakkanadu in Wayanads Sultan Bathery has become a roaring hit, with youngsters from far-away cities flocking to the village to guard the crops. Paddy cultivation is labour intensive and the farmer has to stay awake during the last 30 days when the crop ripens from milk to grain. It is a tough task to guard the crop from wild elephants, deer and wild pigs during the season. Often the farmers are forced to harvest the crop before it ripens. Offering a relief to the farmers who are desperate to save the crops, Paul Mathews, chairman of the High Court-monitored task force for reporting and implementing solutions to man-animal conflict, has introduced volunteers to guard the crops. Paul Mathews posted a video on social media inviting youngsters to guard crops staying in tree huts on a daily basis. The response was overwhelming. Youngsters from Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur flocked to Sultan Bathery to shoulder the responsibility. It was a mind-blowing experience, said Sunil Titto, a software professional settled in Pune. I saw the social media post and arrived in Sultan Bathery in the first week of December. There were two youngsters from Thrissur with me. We stayed awake through the night in turns, watching for the entry of elephants. Only some deer were spotted. It was cool and the weather was pleasant, he said. The scenic beauty of Vadakkanadu I have been cultivating paddy in my 4 acre farm land for the past four decades. In recent years we are unable to reap the fruits of our labour due to the increasing wild animal menace. Big herds of wild elephants enter the field and destroy the crop during night. The arrival of volunteers to guard the crop has been a big relief, said Jayamani, a farmer. Paul Mathews had moved an application in the High Court seeking direction to the forest department to step up vigil during the harvest season. As the department expressed helplessness citing lack of funds, he advised farmers to seek the help of volunteers to guard the crops. We have laid down strict guidelines for deployment of volunteers. Youngsters interested in helping the farmers should book the dates through a WhatsApp group and arrive at the spot before 5 am. They should climb atop the tree hut before dusk and should not get down before dawn break. They will not be allowed to lit fire or consume liquor. They should bring food and blankets. We will provide them with torch to keep watch over the fields. If the elephants arrive, they have to make noise and alert the farmers, said Paul Mathews. Wayanad has around 17,000 hectares of paddy fields which are surrounded by forest. There are hundreds of tree huts along the fringe areas and the farmers are planning to extend the project to more areas. After day long labour, we are not able to keep watch on the crops during night hours. So if some people volunteer to keep watch on the wild animals, it will be a big relief. We are not charging the volunteers for the night stay and will provide basic facilities, said Jayamani.

IUMLs southern push pays dividends

MALAPPURAM: Once regarded as a party largely confined to the Malabar, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has steadily expanded its reach to emerge as one with a statewide presence. Significantly, the party has, for the first time, won representation in all 14 districts. In the local body elections, the League secured 3,203 seats, including 2,843 under its ladder symbol. With a tally of 2,248 grama panchayat members, 300 block panchayat members, 51 district panchayat members, 36 corporation councillors and 568 municipal councillors, it now ranks third among parties in terms of total seats, behind Congress and CPM. In the 2010 local body elections, IUML secured 1,904 seats, with its strength concentrated mainly in north Kerala. By 2020, the party recorded moderate growth, raising its tally to 2,111. In 2025, it marked a major breakthrough, with a sharp surge to 3,203 seats. IUML state general secretary P M A Salam said the partys growth over the years was driven purely by organisational strength. In the past five years, the League has increased its tally by nearly 1,000 seats. We have also strengthened our organisation in the southern districts and won around 80% of the seats we contested. No other party has such a record. In north Malabar, our supremacy is unquestioned. We won the Malappuram district panchayat without opposition, and in other northern districts of the state, we secured almost all the seats allotted to us, he said. The party won all three district panchayat seats it contested in Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram. Even Pathanamthitta, where it had no representation, returned seven members. After a gap, it won two seats each in the Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram corporations, three seats in Kochi corporation, and doubled its strength in Kozhikode corporation from seven to 14. Buoyed by its performance, the League is now staking a claim for deputy mayor posts in Kollam and Kochi, in addition to its existing positions in the Kozhikode and Kannur corporations.

Kozhikodes tabletop airport eased officials decision to choose Kochi

KOCHI: It was a miraculous escape for 160 passengers and crew of the Air India Express flight from Jeddah to Calicut, after the pilots realised mid-air that the landing gear developed a technical glitch, caused by multiple tyre bursts. That the flight was heading to the dangerous table-top airport at Calicut made the scenario all the more dangerous, and the pilots had to make some quick decisions weighing the limited options before them. It was decided to divert the Air India Express flight IX 398 as the tabletop airport at Calicut was posing high risk. Tabletops are risky and challenging to the best of pilots, and here the aircraft landing gear was stuck. So there were no second thoughts to divert the aircraft to nearby airports, said airline sources. The pilots were left with the choice to divert the flight to either Mangaluru, Kannur or to two airports in Goa, but they finally chose Kochi airport, given the airports preparedness and better facilities, including modern firefighting equipment. The preparedness at Kochi airport is world-class. The same was proved in the full-scale mock drill, showcasing the airports emergency preparedness, held just a couple of months back, on October 28, 2025. Further, an emergency landing involving a SpiceJet aircraft in a similar scenario was successfully carried out at the airport two years back. Hence it was decided to divert the flight to Kochi airport and make an emergency landing, even as the pilots were trying to gauge the extent of damage to the landing gear and the tyres,they said. The pilots quickly contacted the Air Traffic Control unit of the Kochi airport mid air at 8.35 am. An alert was sounded and the airport authorities immediately activated the Emergency Response Plan, without wasting a second. The authorities mobilised all relevant operational units, including Airport Fire & Rescue Services (AFRS), medical units, and security personnel, and positioned them along the runway as a precautionary measure. External stakeholders including State Fire & Rescue and State Police also joined them in keeping a high alert and ready to face any eventuality, an airport spokesperson said. The Air India Express flight touched down safely at Kochi airport at 9.08 am under full emergency conditions. However, what proved crucial in the end was the airport fire safety team spraying Fire Retardant Foamall along the course of the dedicated section of runway marked for the emergency landing. With all the emergency services activated, the aircraft landed safely at 9.08 am. During landing, sparks could be seen, and markings formed due to the damaged tyres. We were much relieved after it finally came to a halt. Luckily the aircraft didnt sway too much and the sparks died down even as they formed, the sources said. The gravity of the potentially dangerous situation was revealed when a post-landing inspection by technical teams confirmed that both the tyres on the right-side landing gear and the one at the left side had burst. The emergency response system too worked out to perfection. The markings caused due to the emergency landing were fixed with the help of modern systems. The aircraft was safely taxied off the runway, which was subsequently inspected for debris and released for normal flight operations shortly thereafter. No passenger or crew suffered any injuries. The teams worked in close coordination and the runway was cleared in just 35 minutes as it was (9 am to 10 am) peak traffic hour. All operations were coordinated according to standard procedures, and it is a relief that all passengers and crew are safe and being transported to their destination, said CIAL managing director S Suhas. Meanwhile, a section of passengers protested when the airlines informed the passengers that they would be transported to Calicut by road. The authorities initially assured us that we would be flown to our original destination in Karipur after a brief halt. However, once the passengers disembarked, the airline shifted its stance, stating we will be transported by bus instead, said an agitated passenger. Safe Touchdown 8.35 am: Pilots alert Kochi ATC 9.08 am: Aircraft lands under full emergency 9.45 am: Runway cleared

Digitisation of SIR forms completed in Kozhikode

Forms received by the deadline will be included in the draft electoral roll, scheduled for publication on December 23

Sahamithra project to transform Kozhikode into a disabled-friendly district

CAT result 2025 expected to be released soon at iimcat.ac.in: Direct link to download here

The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode is set to announce CAT 2025 results soon on its official portal, iimcat.ac.in. The results, reflecting scaled scores and percentiles, will form the basis for shortlisting candidates for WAT, GD, and PI at IIMs and participating institutes. Aspirants are advised to check scorecards carefully and rely only on official updates.

Digitisation of SIR enumeration forms nearing completion in Kozhikode

Watch: Air India Express flight makes emergency landing in Kochi after tyre failure

A major aviation mishap was averted after an Air India Express flight from Jeddah to Kozhikode was diverted to Kochi following a technical snag mid-air. Post-landing checks confirmed that both right-side tyres had burst.

Jeddah-Kozhikode AI Express Flight Makes Precautionary Landing at Kochi

An Air India Express spokesperson said that the Jeddah-Kozhikode flight was diverted to Cochin International Airport and made a precautionary landing due to suspected damage to the aircraft's tyre

7,210 Kudumbashree women race to victory in local body polls

17,082 Kudumbashree members contested the local body elections; Kozhikode has the highest number of winners, 709

CAT final answer key 2025 released at iimcat.ac.in: Direct link to download here

The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode has released the CAT 2025 final answer key on iimcat.ac.in, concluding the post-exam objection process. Conducted on November 30 across three shifts, the exam saw 187 objections reviewed by experts, with only one challenge accepted. The final key now clears the way for score normalisation and results.

AI Express flight makes emergency landing at Cochin airport due technical issues

An Air India Express flight from Jeddah to Kozhikode carrying 160 passengers made an emergency landing at Cochin International Airport due to a landing gear and tyre failure. The aircraft landed safely at 09.07 am under full emergency conditions, it said

Air India Express flight makes precautionary landing at Kochi after tyre bursts

KOCHI: An Air India Express flight from Jeddah to Kozhikode, carrying 160 passengers and crew, made an emergency landing at Kochi airport on Thursday morning after it was diverted following a technical snag involving tyre bursts. Air India Express flight IX 398 touched down safely at Kochi airport at 9.08 am under full emergency conditions. Upon receiving the landing information at 8.35 am, CIAL (Cochin International Airport Ltd) immediately activated its Emergency Response Plan. The authorities mobilized all relevant operational units, including Airport Fire & Rescue Services, medical units, and security personnel, and positioned them along the runway as a precautionary measure. External stakeholders, including State Fire & Rescue and State Police, also joined them in keeping a high alert and ready to face any eventuality, an airport spokesperson said. With all the emergency services activated, the aircraft landed safely at 9.08 am. A post-landing inspection by technical teams confirmed that both tyres on the right-side landing gear had burst. The runway was cleared and released for operations by 9.45 am, and the first departing flight took off at 9.48 am. Six incoming flights experienced delays, with three diverted to alternate airports, and five departures were rescheduled. Airport operations, including arrivals, departures, and ground handling, soon returned to normal.Despite the mechanical failure, no injuries were reported among the 160 passengers or the crew. The aircraft was safely taxied off the runway, which was subsequently inspected for debris and released for normal flight operations shortly thereafter. All operations were coordinated according to standard procedures, and it is a relief that all passengers and crew are safe and being transported to their destination, said CIAL Managing Director S Suhas IAS. Air India Express confirmed that the precautionary landing was due to suspected tyre damage, likely caused by a foreign object on the runway at Jeddah Airport. Our Jeddah-Kozhikode flight was diverted to Kochi and made a precautionary landing due to suspected damage to the aircrafts tyre, likely caused by a foreign object on the runway at Jeddah airport. The aircraft landed safely at Kochi, and all guests are being connected to Kozhikode by road. Safety remains our highest priority, said an Air India spokesperson. However, a section of passengers protested when the airlines informed them that they would be transported to Kozhikode by road.The authorities initially assured us that we would be flown to our original destination in Karipur after a brief halt. However, once the passengers disembarked, the airline shifted its stance, stating we will be transported by bus instead, said an agitated passenger. Many cited health concerns and the exhaustion of an unexpected road trip following an already stressful flight. We've arrived here for a short vacation, and now find ourselves losing out on an extra day. At least they could have accommodated us in another flight to Calicut instead of the tiring road journey, said another passenger.

Jeddah-Kozhikode AI Express Flight Makes Precautionary Landing

KOCHI, Dec 18: A Kozhikode-bound Air India Express flight with 160 passengers made a precautionary landing at the airport here on Thursday due to issues involving the aircrafts tyres, an airline official said. An Air India Express spokesperson said that the Jeddah-Kozhikode flight was diverted to the Cochin International Airport and made a precautionary landing due to suspected damage to the aircrafts tyre likely caused by a foreign object on the runway at Jeddah airport. The aircraft landed safely in [] The post Jeddah-Kozhikode AI Express Flight Makes Precautionary Landing appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Air India Jeddah Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Tyre Failure

SRINAGAR: An Air India Express flight, IX 398, travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Kozhikode, made an emergency landing at Kochi airport on Thursday morning after a technical issue with the right main landing gear and tyre failure, The Hindu reported. Carrying 160 passengers, the aircraft touched down safely under full emergency protocols at 9.07 []

Air India express jet makes safe landing in Kochi amidst gear trouble

Kochi: An Air India Express flight from Jeddah to Kozhikode with 160 passengers carried out an emergency landing at the Cochin International Airport here on Thursday due to issues involving its landing gear and tyre failure, an official said. The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), in a statement, said that it successfully facilitated the safe 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 .

Kerala cabinet clears relief measures, pay hikes and major development decisions

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state cabinet on Wednesday approved a range of welfare, administrative and infrastructure-related measures. The cabinet sanctioned an additional Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund to Bineesh M, a Harbour Rescue Guard from Kasaragod district who lost his leg in an accident during night patrol duty. This is in addition to the Rs 55,000 assistance granted earlier. In a move benefiting employees under the Scheduled Tribes Development Department, the cabinet approved an increase in honorarium for staff working in 18 Model Pre-Schools. Teachers will now receive Rs 13,000 per month, while ayas or helpers will get Rs 9,000. To strengthen healthcare infrastructure, the cabinet sanctioned posts for the first phase of the Institute of Organ Transplantation to be set up in Kozhikode. The approved posts include 14 professors, seven associate professors and 39 assistant professors. A transplant coordinator post will be retained at the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. The cabinet also approved the implementation of a pension scheme for employees of the Malabar Cancer Centre in association with LIC. Accepting the recommendation of the Kerala State Backward Classes Commission, the Cabinet decided to include the Balija, Kavarai, Gavara, Gavarai, Gavarai Naidu, Balija Naidu, Gajalu Balaija and Valai Chetty communities in the state OBC list. It also approved the opening of new regional offices of the Kerala State Minorities Development Corporation in Kottayam and Alappuzha. The cabinet granted exemption from stamp duty and registration fees for registering the lease agreement between KINFRA and BPCL for 74 acres of land in Palakkad for establishing a petroleum, oil and lubricants terminal and related facilities. It also approved increasing the retirement age of employees of Oushadhi from 58 to 60 years. Subject to conditions, the Cabinet approved a government guarantee for a Rs 190.22-crore loan through NABARD for constructing the second IT building at Kozhikode Cyberpark, along with an additional Rs 100-crore guarantee for the State Womens Development Corporation. Permission was also granted to purchase a bus for the Alappuzha Government Nursing College.

Organ donations reach five-year high in Kerala; 21 contributions recorded this year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Deceased organ donations in Kerala have climbed to a five-year peak, with 21 contributions recorded this year, signalling renewed public confidence in a programme that has often faced criticism. The two contributions were instrumental in pushing the tally to a record high of 21 this year. The surge was driven by the families of two donors who were declared brain-dead in separate accidents. Thiruvananthapuram native K Satheesh, principal of a Higher Secondary School, was one of them. Kozhikode native V K Sreebith, Law Secretary at the Women and Children Hospital, was the other. Both men, in their fifties, were declared brain-dead on December 12 and 13 respectively. Sreebiths children, Geethika S Sreebith, an MBBS student, and Rithu Geeth, a BTech student at IIT Kharagpur, insisted on donating their fathers organs to save lives. To expedite the process, they shifted him from Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram to a tertiary private hospital. The family even approached the Health Ministers office to ensure brain death certification and facilitate the donation. A programme rebounding from decline The deceased organ donor programme had hit a low in 2024, with only 11 donations. Public trust had eroded due to frivolous petitions against hospitals and doctors involved in brain death certification and transplantation, as well as misleading portrayals in cinema. This was in sharp contrast to 2015, when the programme recorded 76 donations. In response, the government empowered the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation (K-SOTTO), the nodal agency for transplantation, to restore credibility. Despite state efforts, government medical colleges remain underutilised in cadaver organ donation. Public attitude toward organ donation has changed for the better. People now realise that in cases of brain death, organ donation is the right path, said Dr Noble Gracious, executive director of K-SOTTO. Over the past year, K-SOTTO has conducted extensive awareness campaigns and organised brain death certification workshops for doctors. Yet, reluctance among medical professionals persists. There is a law and clear guidelines on brain death certification. But doctors remain hesitant to take responsibility. If ICU doctors adopt brain death certification as routine practice, Kerala will transform dramatically, Dr Noble emphasised. Despite state efforts, government medical colleges remain underutilised in cadaver organ donation. With the exception of institutions like Kottayam Medical College, progress has been limited. Over the past five years, private hospitals have consistently secured up to 20 donors annually, while government facilities managed only two.

Revised timeline for NH-66 in Kerala pegs completion by mid-2026

KOCHI: The long-drawn-out widening of NH 66 in Kerala is now targeted for a phased completion between March and August 2026, with most major stretches unlikely to be ready before the upcoming assembly elections. Revised timelines released by the Ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) indicate that the bulk of the work will be completed only by the middle of next year. In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha on December 11, the ministry said work is under way on 16 stretches of NH 66 in Kerala, covering a total length of 422.8 km. The revised completion dates were fixed after reviewing physical progress and delays across packages. The project has been under intense scrutiny following a series of collapses and structural failures on under-construction stretches, raising concerns about construction quality and public safety. In early December, a section of the highway and an adjoining service road caved in near Mylakkadu in Chathannur, close to Kottiyam in Kollam district. Earlier, on May 19, a portion of NH 66 collapsed near Kooriyad in Malappuram district, with a retaining wall giving way and debris falling onto a service road built over reclaimed paddy land. Responding to a question by MP Adoor Prakash on the safety of road users during and after construction, the ministry said an expert committee has been appointed to examine vulnerable slopes and embankments along the NH-66 corridor in Kerala. Based on the committees recommendations, remedial measures are being carried out alongside ongoing work. The ministry also said penal action has been initiated against defaulting contractors and consultants, and that technical and safety audits will be conducted at identified vulnerable locations as required. According to the revised schedule, some of the more advanced stretches in north and central Kerala are expected to be completed between March and June 2026, while several key links in Kozhikode and south Kerala have timelines extending up to August 2026. Sections showing relatively lower progress have been given extended deadlines to accommodate additional safety and rectification works. MoRTH maintained that close monitoring mechanisms are now in place to prevent further structural failures and ensure compliance with design and safety standards. State-wise reviews are also being conducted more frequently to address site-specific challenges, including weak soil conditions and embankment stability. If the revised timelines hold, Kerala could see near-continuous six-lane connectivity along much of its coastal spine by mid-2026. Experts add the phased completion would still mark a significant milestone for mobility, logistics and road safety in the state.

E-double-deckers soon for Thrissur and Kozhikode

Two youths killed in motorcycle accident near Kozhikode beach in Kerala

Two others who sustained grave injuries in the accident admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital

IIM CAT final answer key 2025 expected to be released soon at iimcat.ac.in: Check details here

The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) is set to release the CAT 2025 final answer key soon, following the evaluation of objections raised against the provisional key. This definitive key will guide score calculation and percentile determination, marking the final step before results. Candidates can access it on iimcat.ac.in and should monitor the portal for updates.

Man held on charge of online fraud in Kozhikode

HC dismisses PIL challenging Kozhikode- Wayanad tunnel project

Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samity had challenged the environmental clearance accorded by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to the Public Works department for the project that is expected to reduce travel time between the two districts

IUML 'purification ritual' at panchayat office in Kozhikode sparks Left protests

KOZHIKODE (Kerala): The CPI(M)'s youth wing DYFI on Tuesday carried out a march to the Changaroth panchayat office here in protest against the alleged purification ritual carried out by IUML activists at the local body a day ago as its former president hailed from the Dalit community, police said. Police said that the protest was peaceful and there was no tense atmosphere prevailing in the area. It also said that the LDF will be holding a protest march to the panchayat office in the evening. Police further said that no complaint in connection with the alleged purification ritual has been received by it till now. It said that on Monday, a group of UDF activists, as part of their victory celebrations, sprinkled some green-coloured water outside the panchayat office and swept the ground there. Visuals of the incident aired on TV channels showed a few persons, carrying Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) flags, sprinkling some kind of water on the ground in front of the local body office and sweeping the place with a broom. The former panchayat president, Unni Vengeri, claimed that IUML activists were behind the incident. IUML is a key constituent of the Congress-led UDF opposition in Kerala. Vengeri said he did not see any Congress activists taking part in the incident, but some of them were watching it from the nearby road. He contended that in three of the four panchayats the UDF won from the LDF, no such celebrations were held. The only difference in Changaroth panchayat is that a member of the Dalit community was the president here, so if anyone assumes it to be a casteist insult, can they be faulted? he asked while speaking to a TV channel. It is emotionally hurtful, he added. He recalled that during the previous five years of LDF rule in the local body, the panchayat functioned by including all communities. There will be non-cooperation from the opposition's side, but unlike the Congress, the IUML acted with a particular agenda, Vengeri claimed.

CPM-SDPI understanding in Azhiyoor: Congress leader Mullappally

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Mullappally Ramachandran has alleged that an open understanding between the CPM and the SDPI in Azhiyoor panchayat of Vadakara reflects the degeneration of the ruling party and demanded that the chief minister respond to the issue. Mullappally said that despite being one of the largest parties in the panchayat, the CPM managed to secure only 10 votes in Azhiyoor first ward and just seven votes in the 20th ward. He claimed this was indicative of a nexus between the CPM and the SDPI. He alleged that the understanding was reached through discussions between the SDPI and the CPM leadership in Kozhikode district, and that a leader close to the chief minister played a key role in facilitating the talks. Mullappally said the chief minister, who alleged compromises with both majority and minority communalism while indulging in revolutionary rhetoric on public platforms, must now offer a clear ideological explanation on the matter. He further claimed that after a decade in power, the CPM has become isolated from the people and is moving along the Bengal model. Referring to Bengal, he said the CPM, which ruled the state for 34 years, was eventually rejected by the people.

Situation favourable for broadening of UDF base in Kerala, says IUML state president

KOZHIKODE: IUML state president Panakkad Syed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal has said the situation is favourable for a broadening of the UDF base ahead of next years assembly elections. Addressing reporters in Kozhikode on Monday, he said the LDF has some disgruntled parties which are expected to come to the UDF fold, adding that these like-minded parties should be accommodated after discussing with UDFs other constituents. He did not give a direct answer to the question whether the Welfare Party will be inducted into the UDF. We are not speaking about a specific party, said IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty. He said UDFs political base is strong and it should be further strengthened by the induction of more parties. That will make the next assembly elections a zero-risk affair for the front, he said.

LDF blames minority consolidation for Kerala local body poll loss; rejects anti-incumbency factor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rejecting anti-incumbency factor, the CPM and the CPI the two leading partners in the LDF have blamed minority consolidation in favour of the Opposition UDF and cross voting by the Congress and the BJP in select areas for the drubbing suffered by the ruling front in the local body polls. Based on preliminary reports from the district leaderships, the CPM state secretariat assessed that the Christian community deserted the LDF in the four central Kerala districts of Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki, while the Muslim votes worked against it in the Malabar region. It attributed LDFs setback in Thiruvanathapuram and Kollam corporations to cross-voting between the Congress and the BJP. According to the CPM, the Christian community, cutting across denominations, largely shifted allegiance to the UDF in central Kerala. Party leaders cited Ernakulam as a striking example, where the LDF suffered unexpected setbacks in Kochi corporation and Ernakulam district panchayat. The shift they said, also adversely affected the LDFs vote sahre in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki. LDF suspects Cong-BJP cross-voting in TPuram and Kollam corporations The widening rift between the Church and the general education department was the primary trigger for the alienation, the CPM felt. Church-run school managements had demanded parity with a Supreme Court order obtained by the NSS on job reservations for differently-abled persons in private aided educational institutions. General Education Minister V Sivankuttys warning to managements against threatening the government is believed to have exacerbated tensions. The development prompted all Christian denominations to take a critical stance against the government, which got reflected in the voting, the secretariat felt. The CPM, however, rejected CPIs suggestion that the Kerala Congress has lost its organisational base in Kottayam. Post LSG poll debacle, bruised Left front starts introspection However, this trend did not significantly impact districts such as Thrissur, Kannur, Kozhikode and Kasaragod. It further assessed that a tacit understanding among the Jamaat e Islami, IUML and Congress consolidated Muslim votes in favour of the UDF, the CPM secretariat assessed. At a press conference, CPM state secretary M V Govindan questioned the claims that Muslims had deserted LDF, pointing out that it secured around 10 lakh votes in Malappuram. However, party insiders acknowledged concern over LDFs failure to secure presence in Malappuram district panchayat. CPI, in its assessment, said Muslim consolidation against LDF was intensified by two factors: CPMs failure to distance itself from the remarks of SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, perceived as hostile to Muslims and apprehensions that special intensive revision (SIR) could adversely affect the community. The higher voter turnout worked against LDF, it said. In Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam corporations, both parties suspect tactical cross-voting between Congress and BJP aimed at defeating LDF. Govindan alleged that in 41 wards won by BJP in Thiruvananthapuram corporation, Congress polled less than 1,000 votes, suggesting strategic voting. CPI state secretariat identified similar pattern in Kollam corporation too. CPI felt that lack of action against former TDB president A Padmakumar had sent a wrong message to believers that the government has something to hide. However, CPM rejected any impact. Govindan asserted that action would be taken against Padmakumar only if the court found him guilty.

Beypore gears up for water fest

Contestants from five countries are expected to take part in the kite festival, one of the major attractions of water fest; cycle rally from Kozhikode to Beypore on December 25 to herald the start of the festival

Charging crisis sparks trouble for e-rickshaw drivers in Kozhikode city

They say the memorandums submitted to State ministers, seeking more charging points, have been ignored for more than six months

UDF comeback to reshape political balance in Malabar

Though LDFs core base remains unshaken in Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, and Palakkad, the Opposition front has drastically overturned the ruling fronts hegemony established in the previous local body polls in 2020

Southern neglect in UDF leaves IUML irked

MALAPPURAM: The IUML has voiced deep dissatisfaction over what it describes as inadequate representation in southern Kerala within the UDF, warning that the issue could have wider implications for future seat-sharing arrangements. IUML state general secretary P M A Salam told TNIE that despite being denied seats in five district panchayats in the southern region, the party delivered a stronger electoral performance than several UDF constituents an apparent reference to the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP). IUML was denied seats in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki and Kottayam. Instead they were allotted four seats altogether in Ernakulam, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram. IUML was allotted only four seats across the southern district panchayats, but we won three of them. In Kollam, another UDF constituent was given four seats but managed to win only one, Salam said. He pointed out that the party chose not to explore alternative political alignments despite what it sees as continued marginalisation. We could have entered into local alliances with other parties in the southern districts, but we chose to contest independently. That was not the approach adopted by the Congress, he said. Drawing a contrast with northern Kerala, Salam said Malappuram remains a stronghold of IUML, where the party ensured generous seat-sharing with the Congress. Our workers worked hard for Congress victories in Malappuram. Unfortunately, the same spirit of mutual respect was not extended to us in the south, he said. Salam said the party would raise these concerns at a high-level IUML meeting scheduled to be held in Kozhikode on Monday. The question of demanding a larger share of seats in the forthcoming Assembly elections will also be taken up soon in UDF, he added. He also attributed the CPMs electoral decline to what he described as a Left Hindutva approach. The CPM attempted to play communal politics by cozying up to SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan to consolidate Hindu votes, alienating the Muslim community. As a result, Muslims voted for the UDF, while a section of Hindu voters shifted towards the BJP, Salam said.

Post LSG poll debacle, bruised Left front starts introspection

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Left reeling after the local body poll debacle, a battered LDF has set in motion a thorough review of its electoral performance. Calls have already begun from within the front for deep introspection and course correction, similar to the exercise it undertook after the 2019 electoral defeat. Both the CPM and the CPI state secretariat meetings on Monday and the LDF meeting scheduled on Wednesday are set to explore measures to win back the ruling fronts lost mass base. A quick analysis by the CPM leadership feels that the Sabarimala issue and failure to reach out to the grassroot level led to the electoral backlash. The party should seriously introspect why it lost in strongholds like Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and certain pockets of Kozhikode, said a CPM state committee member. Its a fact that campaigns initiated at the top level never reached the grassroots. Naturally, attempts to expose a supposed Jamaat-SDPI-League axis failed miserably. Similarly, with regard to controversies like the Sabarimala gold theft, the party failed to reiterate an effective campaign narrative that could convince the common man. Sabarimala being an emotional issue, it served as a catalyst for the anti-incumbency factor, the leader said. Calls for introspection have already begun in the LDF. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam, in a social media post, called for peoples suggestions and opinions on what went wrong with the LDF. Obviously, the intent is to set in motion the wheel of course correction. CPM central committee member Thomas Isaac has come out with a social media post saying that the party would explore whether the people were misled by any lapses. The CPM assesses that there was considerable erosion in the Hindu votes. We failed to gauge peoples sentiments On one side we failed to weaken the Muslim League. There was a Muslim consolidation in favour of the UDF, especially after the global Ayyappa meet. So, it clearly backfired. On the other, the Hindu votes got divided between the three fronts. Moreover, the BJP was able to garner a section of Christian minority votes too in some pockets in central Kerala, said a CPM leader. Leaders feel while anti-incumbency played a crucial role, a slew of other factors like PM SHRI too could have contributed to the poll drubbing. More than the anti-incumbency factor, it was Sabarimala that eroded peoples trust, said a senior CPI leader. We failed to gauge the peoples sentiments. Though the government implemented several welfare and development measures, we couldnt take it to the people. Earlier the Left used to succeed in sensing the peoples pulse. It seems that has come down drastically, he said. A multitude of factors contributed to the Left debacle, feels political observer Professor Sajad Ibrahim. An obvious anti-incumbency against the 10-year-rule got multiplied by a slew of other factors. Contrary to the belief that the BJP would make inroads only into the Congress fold, this time around, the saffron party was able to eat into the CPM base too. The Lefts over-confident posturing, weakened campaign politics coupled with the Sabarimala fiasco too seem to have played a role. Moreover, the party should have stayed away from gimmicks like the Ayyappa meet and last minute pension hike, he said. Many in the LDF feel that the front should have projected good governance of the last 10 years as its primary poll plank, rather than training guns on Muslim minorities. Similarly over-dependence on community leaders for support went against the Left narrative that has been winning peoples trust for long. Though the welfare pensions were a great move, the Sabarimala effect nullified it. With assembly polls coming up, the Left is likely to begin the process of course correction with elaborate house visits, political explanation campaigns, reaching out to the masses thus winning back, not just its mass base but its lost face too.

Red fortresses tumble as UDF scripts a comeback

KOZHIKODE: For decades, some panchayats were spoken of in political shorthand as safe, solid, and sealed. The 2025 local body results tore up that vocabulary. Voters, it appears, had other plans. One by one, long-held Left bastions slipped, and the UDF walked in through doors once thought firmly shut. At the district panchayat level, the contest was finely balanced, with the UDF securing 14 seats, narrowly edging past the LDFs 13, while others claimed one seat. Though the numerical difference is slender, the political symbolism is substantial. The UDFs performance in municipalities further strengthened its position. Out of seven municipalities, the front captured four key civic bodies Feroke, Koduvally, Payyoli, and Ramanattukara establishing a clear upper hand in urban local governance. These victories underline the UDFs renewed appeal among urban and semi-urban voters, a segment where the LDF had made notable inroads in recent years. However, it is at the grama panchayat level that the political shift becomes most pronounced. The UDF surged ahead with 39 seats, compared to the LDFs 27, while four panchayats witnessed a tie. What makes these results particularly relevant is the dramatic return of Chemanchery and Perambra panchayats to the UDF fold after more than two decades of sustained Left control. The UDF has also reclaimed power in Cheruvannur, further denting the LDFs rural strongholds. Shafi factor The result is widely interpreted as a strong expression of anti-incumbency sentiment, intensified by recent political protests and evolving electoral dynamics. A defining issue in the UDFs campaign was the alleged lathicharge on Congress MP Shafi Parambil during a UDF protest in Perambra town. The incident triggered widespread public outrage and became a central campaign plank for the opposition. Reacting to the verdict, Shafi Parambil described the results as a direct rejection of the state government. The people rose up and decisively halted the government. This verdict is against the chief minister and the government itself, he said, calling the mandate the fuel for 2026. The UDFs momentum extended into the hilly regions as well. It registered a historic victory in Puthuppadi, capturing 21 of 24 wards, while making substantial gains in Thamarassery and retaining control in Kattippara. The LDF suffered a severe setback in Puthuppadi and failed to translate increased vote share into seat gains elsewhere.

IUML workers attacking our cadre: SDPI

KOZHIKODE: Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has alleged that the IUML is mounting attacks on its cadre at various parts of north Kerala after the declaration of the results of the local body elections. The party said that its leader Salim Punathil was attacked by IUML workers when he was returning home after the victory celebrations on Saturday. In a statement, SDPI said the attack was a result of conspiracy hatched by IUML leadership to create tension. The party had won the ward number two of Azhiyur panchayat with a good majority. The IUML is frustrated that the party failed to win in the panchayat. IUML workers had attacked SDPI activist Sabad V P also, said the panchayat committee in a press release. SDPI district president Musthafa Kommeri said the IUML workers have unleashed attacks on party workers at Manjeri and Vadakara municipalities and Muzhakkunnu grama panchayat in Kannur district. Meanwhile, MSF state general secretary C K Najaf said the SDPI and the CPM acted like bosom friends in the elections. Kerala has kicked out the communal organisation called the SDPI along with the CPM in the elections, he said in an FB post.

Reality check: CPM faces recalibration Dilemma

KOZHIKODE: If you wanna call out, call out all religious fundamentalism, screamed a Facebook post from a CPM sympathiser agitated over the double standard of painting the BJP victory in Thiruvananthapuram as communal while refusing to see the IUML victory in Malappuram along the same lines. Speak class politics. Address labourers, students, women, and Gen Z. And come back, wrote another party sympathiser on social media, calling for a complete course correction in the party. These two contrasting reactions from CPM fellow travellers speak volumes on the existential angst the party has been undergoing for the past few years. The results of the local body elections have proved that the Muslim community has completely moved away from the party and the efforts to woo Hindu voters have not yielded desired results. The CPM strategy of singling out the Jamaat-e-Islami has boomeranged, resulting in the consolidation of Muslim votes against the party. Muslim intellectuals say the party has failed to understand the changes in the dynamics within the community, especially after the Sangh Parivar came to power in 2014. They say the community no longer cares about their internal differences and by and large is ready to bury the squabbles in the face of the looming threat from the Sangh Parivar. The IUML is the greatest political beneficiary of the unity of the Muslim community, as evident in the past few elections. The CPM game plan of targeting the Jamaat-UDF alliance did not succeed because it was seen as a move to thwart the unity among the Muslims. The IUML could overcome all organisational issues easily by asserting the need to stand united. The PDP and the INL -- the two Muslim organisations aligned to the CPM -- could not do much in the polarised environment. Leaders like K T Jaleel and P T A Rahim, who helped the party in the past to make inroads into the Muslim community, paled into insignificance because they were seen as CPM agents bent on disturbing the unity in the community. The future course of Kerala politics will largely be a reaction to the reality of the Muslim consolidation and the CPMs reaction to the phenomenon. Some voices in the community believe that it is not ideal to play the victim card for political gains because that would only result in the further alienation of Muslims in society. But it is quite unlikely that the IUML, which has tasted the benefits of the polarisation, will go for a rethink in the immediate future. What will the CPM do to overcome the crisis? Will it amplify the slogan of Muslim fundamentalism louder with the help of people like SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan? There is a strong feeling among CPM sympathisers that keeping Kerala secular is not the burden of the party alone and that it cannot stand mute witness while communalism is being used politically against the party. But there is also a segment in the party which believes that the CPM should return to its core content of addressing the basic issues concerning the people rather than getting involved in communal polemics. These questions will become louder as the state moves closer to the assembly elections. Consolidation vote puts CPM at a crossroads The CPM has come to recognise that Muslim consolidation against the party is a political reality, but remains uncertain about how to respond to it. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has emerged as the principal beneficiary of this consolidation and is expected to reinforce the trend ahead of the assembly elections. Muslim intellectuals argue that the CPM misread the communitys internal dynamics, noting that concerns over the Sangh parivar pose a greater unifying factor than internal differences. Within the CPMs support base, opinion is divided. While one section believes the party should avoid communal polemics, another contends that silence is untenable when communal mobilisation is directed against it.

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

Police tighten vigil in Kozhikode after firecracker explosion kills youth

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.

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: 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.

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.

UDF breaches LDF citadels in Kozhikode, NDA makes gains in urban areas

Though theLDFjust managed to retain power in the 76-memberKozhikodeCorporation council and won eight of the 12 block panchayats, it narrowly lost the district panchayat and surrendered its supremacy ingramapanchayats to the UDF

LDF fails to get majority in Kozhikode Corporation, BJP makes big gains

Left Democratic Front managed to win only 35 of the 76 seats, while the United Democratic Front bagged 28 seats and the National Democratic Alliance 13 seats

Police to maintain high vigil in politically sensitive areas of Kozhikode

Kerala local body polls: UDF retains four municipalities, LDF holds three in Kozhikode

Continuity marks municipal verdict in Kozhikode district amid anti-incumbency trend in Kerala

Kerala local body polls: UDF surges ahead in Kozhikode district; NDA makes gains; LDF hegemony weakens

The Kozhikode Corporation, ruled by the LDF for around five decades, is seeing a neck-and-neck fight

Kerala local body polls: UDF makes history, sweeps panchayats, corporations; NDA secures Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress-led United Democratic Front showcased a thumping victory in both rural and urban civic bodies, as the counting of votes for the 2025 Kerala local body elections came to a close. The UDF has won in four out of six corporations: Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, and Kannur. The LDF retained Kozhikode, whereas the NDA has wrested Thiruvananthapuram from LDF. The UDF also won 59 district panchayats, 1063 block panchayats, and 7451 grama panchayats; the LDF won 30 district panchayats, 823 block panchayats, and 6137 grama panchayats; while the NDA won just one district panchayat, 50 block panchayats, and 1363 grama panchayats. LoP in Kerala Assembly and Congress leader V D Satheesan called the UDF's sweeping victory a warning against the state government and a protest of the people against those who misgoverned Kerala. KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government. LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined. Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People's opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken, he said. Kerala local body polls: Public anger against Pinarayi govt fueled UDF momentum, says VD Satheesan NDA secures 50 seats in Thiruvanathapuram Corporation In the biggest gain for the BJP in the local body polls, the NDA secured 50 seats in the 101-member Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Council. Kerala is fed up of UDF and LDF. They see NDA as the only option that can deliver on good governance and build a #VikasitaKeralam with opportunities for all, wrote Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media platform X. A few of BJP's remarkable wins include its possible mayor candidates, ex-DGP R Sreelekha in Sasthamangalam and VV Rajesh in Kodunganoor wards. However, one of the BJP's star candidates, Padmini Thomas, faced a bitter result in the Palayam ward. The election results come as a shock for the LDF, having lost half of its seats from its previous tenure. The LDF secured only 29 seats. Ajin SL, Left candidate from Thrikkannapuram ward, is becoming one of the party's 'saving graces'. A BJP worker had died by suicide in the work. The UDF improved its status in the corporation, gaining six seats this term, a total of 19 seats. Vaishna Suresh, who fought a legal battle to secure her candidature, won from the Muttada ward with a lead of 393 votes. Ex-MLA KS Sabarinadhan, who was UDF's mayoral candidate from Kowdiar, also made a remarkable win. Thiruvananthapuram Corporation stands different from the pro-UDF wave across the State. Congress candidate who moved Kerala HC for name reinstatement in electoral roll, wins Muttada ward Kollam Corporation: UDFsecures 25 seats UDF candidates secured victories in a majority of divisions in Kollam Corporation. UDF candidate Xavier Mathias won in Shakthikulangara Harbour Division. NDA candidate Shiji won the Shakthikulangara Division by a margin of 1,385 votes. UDF candidates B Deepu Gangadharan won Meenathuchery by 2,166 votes. and Radhika Saji won Kavanad by 1,732 votes. Vallikkeezhu Division was won by LDF candidate Vidya Manoj with a margin of 1,459 votes. LDF candidate A M Mustafa won in Kureepuzha West Division, while UDF candidate B Ajith Kumar won in Kureepuzha Division. Neeravil Division was won by LDF candidate Mahesh R by a margin of 1,751 votes. UDF candidate Richa Sugunan won in Anchalumood West Division, while in Anchalumood East Division, UDF candidate Adv. M S Gopakumar won. UDF candidate Dhanya Raju won in Kadavur Division. LDF candidate B Prashanth won in Mathil Division. NDA candidate B Shailaja won in Thevalli Division, while BJP candidate C Suresh Kumar won in Ashramam Division. UDF candidate Shaima won in Pallimukku Division. Ayathil Division was won by LDF candidate Jariath by a margin of 1,467 votes. UDF candidate T Lailakumari won in Kilikollur Division, while P Rajendran Pillai (UDF) won in Pandalathazham Division. NDA candidate R Destimona won in Palathara Division, while UDF candidate Sadakath A won in Manakkad Division. Thrissur Corporation: UDF leads The UDF has made a historic comeback in Thrissur Corporation, securing 33 out of 56 divisions. The Left Democratic Front (LDF), which ruled the corporation for two terms, won 11 seats. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 8 seats. The UDF's victory is attributed to voters' disappointment over the LDF's development projects. Suby Babu, former deputy mayor of Thrissur Corporation, has won in the Gandhinagar division. Raghunath C Menon, who led the campaign works of Suresh Gopi in the Lok Sabha election, has won in the BJP's stronghold, Poonkunnam. The LDF has won 21 out of 30 divisions in Thrissur district panchayat, a clear majority. The UDF has increased its presence from 7 to 9 seats, while the NDA has failed to win any seats despite fielding prominent leaders. The LDF continues to dominate municipalities too, securing five out of seven. Kerala local body polls: UDF makes a strong comeback in Alappuzha, sweeps Malappuram Kottayam district panchayat: LDF, KC (M) defeated in Pala The UDF, this time, reclaimed power in the Kottayam district panchayat, all sixmunicipalities, and a majority of gram and block panchayats. The LDF faced a significant setback this year. In the 2020 local body polls, the LDF had secured the district panchayat, 51 out of 71 block panchayats, 10 out of 11 block panchayats, and three out of sixmunicipalities. Notably, the LDF faced a significant defeat in Pala municipality, traditionally a stronghold of the Kerala Congress (M), suggesting a shift in the party's corevoter base. Speaking to media persons, KC (M) chairman Jose K Mani stated that the party respects the people's mandate and will conduct a 'thorough' analysis ofthe reasons behind the electoral defeat. In 2020, the UDF lost Pala municipality for the first time ever,after KC (M) left the UDF to join the LDF. UDF leadersbelieve this victory will provide a substantial boost to the coalition in the lead-up to the upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled for April-May 2026. Meanwhile, the NDA did not perform as expected. Although they secured Poonjar Thekkekkara panchayat, the BJP lost its existing panchayats, Pallikkathodu and Mutholi. Post-poll arithmetic pushes UDFLDF talks in Palakkad municipality to block NDA

Voter turnout lowest in Kozhikode Corporation

Absence of young voters and dual votes cited as reason

Kozhikode Corporation Council bids farewell as term nears end

The current council will stay in office until the new one takes charge, possibly before December 20; Mayor Beena Philip highlighted the councils achievements over five years, while opposition councillors voiced regret over projects that had stalled

High security in place to ensure peaceful counting in Kozhikode

The support of more than 7,000 police officers will be ensured across the district to maintain law and order

Counting to be held at 20 centres in Kozhikode

There are 12 block-level centres to count the votes of grama panchayats and one centre each for seven municipalities; Government Vocational Higher Secondary School for Girls, Nadakkavu, is the counting centre for the Kozhikode Corporation

MBA student from Kerala dies by suicide in Soladevanahalli

BENGALURU: A 22-year-old MBA student from Kerala has died by suicide leaving behind a death note mentioning three mobile phone numbers and details of a bank account.The deceased has been identified as Jagan Mohanan, a second year MBA student at a private college in Soladevanahalli. He was a native of Vadakara in Kozhikode district. The reasons behind the suicide are yet to be ascertained. The police suspect that the student must have taken the extreme step following blackmail and threats from unidentified persons who had details of his personal information. The accused are suspected to have blackmailed him of making his information public if their monetary demands were not met. The incident happened on Tuesday between 4.30pm and 6pm at the victims rented accommodation in Shanthinagar on the Hesaraghatta Road in Soladevanahalli police station limits. His body was found hanging from the ceiling fan. The victims elder brother, K Kiran Kumar, in a complaint to the police stated that he got a call from his sister saying that Jagan had taken his own life. No arrests have been made yet. The victim has not named anybody in the death note. He mentioned having transferred `24,000 to a bank account. The details of the mobile phone numbers mentioned in the death note are being checked, said DL Nagesh, DCP, (North West division). The body was handed over to the family members after the postmortem at Victoria Hospital. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)

Row over quality of Kerala medicine

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed a protest during Zero Hour from the CPI(M) over allegations of spurious and substandard medicines in Kerala. The protest began when Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisham launched a blistering attack on Keralas drugs control department, claiming that recent raids across the state had exposed the widespread availability of counterfeit and poor-quality medicines. As soon as Congress MP Hisham made her allegations, CPI(M) MP John Brittas and others sharply objected. Despite their protests, the Chair allowed the Congress member to complete her speech. Hisham said raids conducted in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram had revealed a shocking truth about the extent of counterfeit medicines circulating in Keralas pharmaceutical market. No member can mislead the House. All spurious medicines were produced elsewhere and brought to Kerala, Brittas said in reply crediting the state for its efficiency in detecting counterfeit drugs. He objected to what he called nasty aspersions cast on the CM and demanded that those comments be expunged from the record. Please delete that, he urged the Chair. This is not a small lapse. These raids expose the utter failure and shameful inefficiency of the states drug control department. Its negligence has allowed an unregulated network of manufacturers and marketing companies to push substandard medicines from outside Kerala, the Congress MP added.

109-year-old Omana Amma turns poll star in Kerala's Perambra

KOZHIKODE: Early morning, while at her home in Eravattur, 109-year-old Manikkoth Omana Amma had only one concern: When will you take me to vote? Her simple but firm question set the stage for one of the most touching moments this election day. Despite her age and frailty, Omana Amma was determined not to miss her chance to vote. By 3:45pm, she was on her way to booth number 2 in ward 18 of Perambra panchayat, travelling in an autorickshaw with her family and neighbours. The journey wasnt easy for her, but her resolve kept everyone going. Weakness due to age made it difficult for her to either step out of the vehicle or enter the polling booth. Noticing the situation, polling officials came outside, assisted her with compassion, applied the indelible ink on her finger, and arranged for her to cast her vote. Her family said that nothing could stop her from voting. Right from the morning, she insisted she would go to the booth no matter what. Voting has always been sacred to her, said her grandson. Local social worker Babu E M, who played a key role in bringing her to the polling station, said her determination moved everyone around her. When a 109-year-old woman is so committed to voting, it sends a strong message to society. She told us, I will vote. Take me there. Her conviction inspired all of us, he said. Young voters who witnessed the scene said they felt humbled and motivated. Many youngsters even took the opportunity to click selfies with Omana Amma to share on their social media platforms. According to her family members, there has not been a single election in her lifetime that she has missed. She is deeply committed to her principles and ideologies, and voting has always been a non-negotiable duty for her.

76.08% vote in second phase of local body polls, Kerala records overall turnout of 73.69%

Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod went to the polls on Thursday (December 11) and 1.16 crore of the 1.53 crore voters in these districts exercised their right to vote.

Kozhikode records 77.24% voter turnout in local body polls

KozhikodeCorporation registered 69.55% polling; Ramanattukaraposted the highest polling percentage of 81.39 among municipalities, whilePayyoli recorded the lowest of 76.53%

Young voters ensure strong Gen Z participation in local body polls in Kozhikode

Isolated incidents of violence in local body polls in Kozhikode

Tension prevailed in Nadapuram following clash between LDF and UDF activists over double voting

Congress MP slams Kerala drugs control dept over counterfeit medicines; CPI(M) objects claims

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha witnessed a protest during the Zero Hour on Thursday by the CPI(M) over allegations of spurious and substandard medicines in Kerala. The protest began when Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisham launched a blistering attack on Keralas drugs control department, claiming that recent raids across the state had exposed the widespread availability of counterfeit and poor-quality medicines. As soon as Congress MP Hisham made her allegations, CPI(M) MP John Brittas and others sharply objected. Despite their protests, the Chair allowed the Congress member to complete her speech. Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Hisham said raids conducted in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram had evealed a shocking truth about the extent of counterfeit medicines circulating in Keralas pharmaceutical market. This is not a small lapse. These raids expose the utter failure and shameful inefficiency of the state's drug control department. Its negligence has allowed an unregulated network of manufacturers and marketing companies to push substandard medicines from outside Kerala, the Congress MP said. While acknowledging that the issue extends beyond Kerala and reflects an alarming surge of counterfeit medicine across the country, Hisham focused her criticism on what she described as the state governments failure to tackle the threat. She also highlighted serious deficiencies in Keralas healthcare infrastructure, citing Dr Harris of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, who was allegedly compelled to reveal shortages of basic surgical tools publicly. Surgeries are postponed indefinitely. Operation theatres remain idle due to a lack of maintenance and supplies, she alleged, further claiming that doctors' concerns were being ignored repeatedly, leaving patients to buy surgical materials out of their own pockets. Making a blistering attack on the CPI(M) government in Kerala, she charged, This is not an administrative or system error. This is complete misgovernance. Continuing amid loud protests from CPI(M) members, she also referred to the tragic building collapse at Kottayam Medical College , which claimed one life, describing it as a painful symbol of the collapse of the healthcare system under the Left Democratic Front government. However, when she moved to name Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chair intervened. She urged the central government to instruct the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to conduct a comprehensive probe into Keralas drugs control department o restore transparency and ensure the safety and quality of medicines across the state. Hishams remarks drew an immediate rebuttal from CPI(M) MP John Brittas, who raised a point of order under Rule 258. No member can mislead the House. All spurious medicines were produced elsewhere and brought to Kerala, Brittas said, crediting the state government for its efficiency in detecting counterfeit drugs. He objected to what he called asty aspersions cast on the Chief Minister and demanded that those comments be expunged from the record. Please delete that, he urged the Chair. In response, the Rajya Sabha Chair assured the House that the matter would be examined.

Second phase of key Kerala local body polls begins, CM confident of LDF win

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The second phase of polling in the crucial local body elections commenced in seven districts of Kerala on Thursday morning with the turnout crossing 8 per cent in the first two hours of voting. Voters began casting ballots from 7 am at the 18,274 polling stations in the districts of Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. Polling will conclude at 6 pm. People of all ages and professions, including political leaders, queued up at polling stations since early morning. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan turned up to vote along with his family in Kannur. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, he expressed confidence about a historic win for the LDF and said that the Sabarimala gold loss issue would not affect the prospects of the Left front. He claimed that the government took stringent action in the matter and if it were any other party in power, such steps would not have been taken. Regarding the reported claims by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Sunny Joseph of a conspiracy behind the second complaint of sexual assault against MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, the CM hinted at the presence of a criminal gang of sexual perverts in the grand old party. Vijayan said that such persons intimidated their victims to prevent them from coming forward. VIDEO | Kannur: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan ( @pinarayivijayan ) casts his vote in the local body polls. #KeralaElections #LocalBodyPolls #Kannur (Full video available on PTI Videos https://t.co/n147TvrpG7 ) pic.twitter.com/OGQxTd91kj Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 11, 2025 Leaders of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key ally of the Congress, like Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, P K Kunhalikutty and M K Muneer were confident of a huge victory for the UDF in the local body polls. The KPCC chief said that the Sabarimala gold issue would affect the LDF prospects in the polls as they were protecting those involved in the scam. The local body polls are viewed by many as a key indicator ahead of next year's state assembly elections. In the second phase, over 1.53 crore voters will elect representatives to 12,931 wards across 604 local bodies, including grama panchayats, block panchayats, district panchayats, municipalities and corporations. A total of 38,994 candidates are in the fray. The first phase of polling in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam districts of the state concluded on December 9 with a turnout of around 70 per cent. The results of both phases of polling will be announced on December 13.

Through grasslands & Shola forests, a sacred journey to Sabarimala

PATHANAMTHITTA: Feeling the chill of the Western Ghats and the lush scent of Shola forests, pilgrims to Sabarimala embark on a spiritual trek like no other, crossing over grasslands. The Satram-Pulmedu traditional forest path offers pilgrims a fusion of devotion and wilderness, where nature and faith seem inseparable. With chants of Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa echoing through the slopes of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, the devotees walk under the watch of the forest department, police, and health teams. Perched at a high elevation, the route unveils the rare ecosystem of the shola-grassland mosaic. Vast rolling grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see, broken intermittently by clusters of emerald-green shola trees standing like watchers. Key halting points along the trail Seethakkulam, Zero Point, Pulmedu, and Urakuzhy offer natural waymarks and moments of pause before the final ascent to the sacred hill. The path doubles as a thriving habitat for elephants, tigers, gaurs, and several other wild species. With the region forming part of the core tiger habitat, officials maintain keen surveillance along the entire stretch. Stepping off the designated trail is strictly prohibited, and devotees acknowledge the necessity behind such vigilance. Forest guards positioned at intervals ensure safety without disturbing the fragile ecosystem. We feel safe because of the constant support of the police and forest teams. We have not faced any difficulty so far, says Jinesh, a pilgrim from Thiruvambady in Kozhikode who arrived with an 11-member group. Despite the surge in number of pilgrims this season, devotees unanimously credit the departments for improved facilities. Around 5-6 km from Satram, a resting place awaits at Odamplavu Point, a centre jointly operated by the forest department and district administration. Here, devotees are served hot rice porridge, green gram, and pickle free of cost, besides tea and light snacks. The counter closes only after the last pilgrim of the day has passed, says the official on duty. For emergencies, an off-road ambulance stands ready, offering immediate medical response along the rugged terrain. From food and drinking water to safety, everything has been taken care of. We are truly grateful, says a devotee from Tirupati while resuming his trek. Pilgrims are allowed to enter the route from Satram only between 7 am and 12 noon. To safeguard the forest, plastic products are strictly banned, with thorough checks conducted at entry points. All trekkers must reach the Sannidhanam before 6 pm; those delayed are escorted by forest teams to ensure no one walks alone after nightfall. A final round of patrolling is carried out, and only after tallying token numbers with exit records does the team end its shift -- guaranteeing that every pilgrim who entered has reached safely.

3,097 polling stations set up in Kozhikode

Officials on election duty collected polling materials, including electronic voting machines, from 20 distribution centres and reached their respective stations by Dec. 10 evening. The electorate stands at 26,82,682, with 6,328 candidates in the fray

Kozhikode Collector to submit report on Thilakkam

The UDF and the BJP had lodged complaints with the District Collector over Thilakkam, arguing that its distribution by LDF councillors during the MCC period amounted to a violation

Keralas first e-bike rental service launched in Kozhikode railway station

The service, which has received all necessary clearances, allows commuters to rent e-bikes at 50 per hour, 500 for 12 hours, and 750 for 24 hours

Staff shortage hits MVD special drive in Kozhikode

The appointment of the Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement) has been pending for several months, disrupting the overall coordination of flash inspections and other administrative functions

Tight security in place in Kozhikode district to ensure peaceful polling on local body election day on December 11

Enhanced security measures to be in place in panchayats that have reported the presence of suspected Maoist supporters or activists

Coastal outskirts keep democracy moving in Thiruvananthapuram amid low turnout

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For a city long shadowed by its reputation for lacklustre polling, Thiruvananthapuram seemed to slip deeper into that pattern on election day. In the citys upscale neighbourhoods, where voter apathy has become almost ritual, the silence was unmistakable. By noon, turnout still hovered stubbornly below 30%, a telling sign of the indifference that had marked the morning. At the Kowdiar LP School, nestled in one of the citys quietest upscale pockets, the polling station wore a unhurried look through the morning. Only a handful of voters trickled in at a time, the queue seldom growing beyond two or three people. Then, just before 10.45am, the hush lifted. The arrival of Governor Rajendra Arlekar briefly transformed the otherwise languid booth into a flurry of activity, drawing curious glances. Although the governor arrived prepared to wait his turn, the sparse early-morning turnout meant his time in the queue was fleeting. But as the sun climbed higher, the scene began to shift. Slowly, elderly voters emerged, some leaning on canes, others guided by family. Retired college teacher Johny K John and his wife Elizabeth Thomas have treated every election like an unbreakable family ritual since settling in the capital three decades ago. Their sons John and Thomas, working in Kochi and Kozhikode respectively, boarded overnight trains just to make it home in time to vote alongside their parents. There is definitely a sense of apathy, especially among the younger generation, Elizabeth said. However there are still many who realise that their vote matters, she said. Aparna V P, a first-time voter in the local body polls, echoed that sentiment. My vote is for development and for a city with better, more reliable infrastructure, the BCom student said. Coastal wards told a very different story. By afternoon, polling stations in Beemapally, Valiyathura and the Port wards were buzzing, with queues that refused to thin even after the 6pm deadline. For us, our daily bread comes first. Food first, democracy later, said Jeremias, a 59-year-old fisherman from the Port ward. He had stepped out to get his fishing net repaired but sprinted back as the clock neared closing time. At Kachani ward, voting flowed steadily from early morning. But not everyone arrived in calm spirits. Senior citizen Krishnankutty stood fuming outside the Kachani Government High School booth, where the premises had been dug up for construction. Moments earlier, he had nearly stumbled over the debris while trying to navigate his way to the entrance. No wonder people stay indifferent, he said, frustration unmistakable in his voice. We are already tired of pothole-ridden road. Now, even the polling station is a mess. My vote will definitely reflect my resentment. he said.

Malayali medical intern gets Uzbek honour after saving woman mid-flight

KOZHIKODE: High above the clouds, somewhere between Tashkent and Delhi, a young Kerala doctor-in-training found himself in the kind of life-or-death moment most people only read about. The cabin lights were dim, passengers were settling into the long flight, and suddenly, a frantic announcement cut through the silence: If there is a doctor or medical staff on board, please inform the crew immediately. It was a 24-year-old medical intern from Tirur, Malappuram -- Dr Anees Mohamed -- who stood up. With no equipment, no hospital setting, and thousands of feet above the ground, he was the only hope for a woman who had collapsed and was rapidly slipping into danger. That single moment of decision, fuelled by instinct and training, would not only save a life but also propel him into history as the first Indian and the first foreign national of any kind to be awarded Uzbekistans rare and prestigious Hero of the Country honour. The incident occurred on July 28 this year, where a 48-year-old woman collapsed mid-air. When I checked her vital signs, I found that her heart rate had shot up, a clear case of tachycardia, Dr Anees recalled. I began carotid sinus massage immediately, and within 10-15 seconds, she started stabilising. We monitored her closely until landing and handed her over to doctors in Delhi. At an official ceremony in Uzbekistan on December 4, Dr Anees stood humbly as he received the national award. I dont take this honour for myself. This award belongs to my family, friends, supporters, my university, my rector, dean and vice dean, everyone who guided me. Thank God for this blessing, he said. Though raised and schooled in Dubai, and now training with the Tashkent State Medical University in Uzbekistan, Dr Anees remains deeply rooted in Kerala. He frequently returns to work in hospitals across the state during academic breaks. The love you receive from patients in Kerala is immense, it motivates you to work harder, Dr Anees told TNIE. Whenever I get a vacation or fellowship break, I make sure I fly home to serve here. My dream is to specialise in trauma surgery, and my first preference is definitely to return to India for my masters. He keeps a meticulous surgical logbook even as an intern and has already made headlines for assisting in a major breast cancer surgery in India. His interests include trauma surgery, plastic surgery, and microvascular reconstruction. Outside medicine, Anees is a national MMA and kickboxing champion, and also trains young athletes, one of whom recently won a gold medal at a national event. Proud parents Husain Padasseri and Rahmath Nissa T Arakkal, along with siblings Ameen Ahsan, Rana, and Fida, said they always expected big things from him but never imagined an international government honour this early in his career. The Tashkent State Medical University issued an official note of appreciation, stating: We are proud that our students like Mohamed Anees are providing medical assistance to people around the world thanks to the knowledge they gained here.

Seniors attack Class 9 student, triggered by year-old dress code feud in Kozhikode school

KOZHIKODE: A year-old, trivial disagreement over school dress code has culminated in violence, as a gang of six Class 10 students lured and assaulted a Class 9 student recently inside Vattoli National Higher Secondary School, leaving him hospitalised with serious head injuries. The victim, 15-year-old K V Sharon, was rushed to Nadapuram Government Hospital after the attack, where doctors immediately treated multiple wounds, requiring stitches to his head. The assault, which occurred around 1 pm on Friday, was meticulously planned. According to the complaint, Sharon was called from the playground by two seniors and led to a secluded classroom. It was there that the six-member gang trapped him and attacked him. In the complaint, the victim stated that the assailants kicked his ear and used a sharp ring to stab his head. The assault stemmed from a seemingly insignificant event. The seeds of the violence were sown during the previous years Onam festivities, when Sharon was in Class 8. His class was allegedly threatened because the seniors felt their self-chosen dress code had been copied by the younger students. This minor infraction became a source of ongoing, bitter vengeance against Sharon. The victims relatives confirmed they had attempted to resolve the issue, raising warnings during a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting. Yet, the hostility festered. Sharons father spoke out, his voice laced with anguish and condemnation for the systems failure to protect his son: They held a grudge towards my son for more than a year. We had given multiple complaints to the authorities over time, but sufficient action was not taken. That is what has led to the current situation.

League, Welfare Party can never walk together: K M Shaji

KOZHIKODE: Muslim League state secretary K M Shaji has clarified the partys ideological differences with Jamaat-e-Islami, asserting that the two organisations can never walk together. Speaking to mediapersons in Kozhikode, Shaji stressed that the disagreement between the Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami is global and ideological, not something limited to Keralas political landscape. Shaji dismissed political speculation about electoral cooperation with the Welfare Party, associated to Jamaat-e-Islami. The Welfare Party issue has never been discussed even at the district level. There will be no such understanding for the Assembly elections either, he stated. Sharply criticising Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Shaji said the repeated accusations linking the Muslim League to the Welfare Party were a result of the CMs political complex. He alleged that the chief ministers electoral strategy, especially in earlier phases of campaigning, was designed to target majority votes. That strategy collapsed after the Sabarimala gold theft case. Now, he has come to Malabar looking for ways to engineer a polarisation in Muslim votes, Shaji said. Shaji further emphasised that the Welfare Party has never been an ally of the UDF. However, he pointed out that there is strong anti-Left sentiment among sections of voters in the current election. The UDF will not reject or restrict votes cast as part of this anti-Left sentiment, he clarified. Shaji said that the Muslim Leagues differences with Jamaat-e-Islami stem from international issues, not merely local electoral concerns. Just because they vote for us in an election, we will not praise them the way Pinarayi Vijayan does. We are not here to whitewash their ideology, he said.

Kerala local body elections: Big promises, bigger dreams

KOCHI: keralas local body elections have traditionally centered on the basics roads, drains, streetlights and waste management. But this time, the three major fronts the CPM-led LDF, Congress-led UDF and BJP-led NDA have released manifestos that read less like routine civic checklists and more like ambitious blueprints for parallel futures. If polls were a contest for imagining the most expansive version of Keralas cities, this election would easily qualify as the masterclass in political imagination. The full-fledged, multi-page poll documents for corporations and districts in particular carry a flood of promises some practical, some aspirational and some that wander into the territory of wishful planning. Growing public expectation Micro-level manifestos in local body elections mark a significant shift in Keralas political culture. While many promises may be aspirational or beyond the immediate powers of local governments, the trend itself signals a growing public expectation for accountability and decentralised decision-making. Detailed ward or city-specific pledges push parties to engage more closely with voters everyday concerns and create a record against which their performance can later be measured. In an increasingly urbanised and globally aware electorate, such granular manifestos encourage healthier debates on governance and, over time, can strengthen the relevance and responsiveness of local bodies even if the feasibility of the promises remains uneven. Im happy, said D Dhanuraj, founder-chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR). Praising the sudden surge in detailed manifestos, he said, This will help prompt more discussion on decentralised government, and the public will demand such things. He also believes that global political trends and high-profile campaigns elsewhere may be influencing Keralas political tone. He sees the trend as healthy: When you promise 100 things and dont implement even 10%, someone will question you. I see it as the next level of development as we move towards greater decentralisation. For him, the very presence of detailed manifestos marks a shift toward increased accountability. Economist Jose Sebastian, however, has a sharply different view. The manifesto is a wrong trend. Its becoming a mockery, he said. According to him, none of the fronts, regardless of ideology, explain how they plan to mobilise funds for these expansive promises. Its all tall promises without any substance. Just to create a narrative, he says. Sebastian also argues that Keralas local governments are not autonomous enough to shoulder these grand visions. They have become implementing agencies of central and state schemes. If they had focused on their own resource mobilisation, we wouldnt be in this situation. With the first phase of polling over on Tuesday and the second set for Thursday, the electorate has already begun casting its verdict on these big-ticket manifestos. Saturdays results will reveal which promises resonated, and which remained on paper. OLYMPICS IN TPURAM & METRO TO COIMBATORE? Leading the pack in audacity is the BJP. Its manifesto for the Thiruvananthapuram corporation promises to prepare the capital to serve as one of the venues for the 2036 Olympics. The host city is still undecided, and Ahmedabad is widely tipped as Indias official bidder, but the NDA is confident Thiruvananthapuram can aim high. If that wasnt bold enough, the party has also promised to extend the Kochi Metro all the way to Coimbatore a proposal that would involve overcoming the trifecta of funding challenges, inter-state coordination and monumental infrastructure planning. Alongside these headline-grabbing pledges, the party has also offered more grounded commitments: a Surat-inspired drainage system, Indore-style waste management, and centrally-monitored street lighting. A FULLY SMART KOCHI The Congress-led UDF has filled its Kochi corporation manifesto with everyday urban concerns: garbage, mosquitoes, traffic jams, stray dogs and public health. Its major pitch is a Zero Waste Kochi project aimed at resolving the long-standing issues surrounding the Brahmapuram waste plant. The manifesto also promises to turn Kochi into South Indias first total smart city, a vision based on efficient mobility, digital governance and better civic services. The list of promises is sweeping: garbage-free streets, mosquito control, smoother traffic and a crackdown on drug lobbies. If executed, it would address many chronic complaints of Kochis residents. However, whether these proposals survive the constraints of local body finances remains unclear. INFRA-HEAVY AGENDAS FOR KOCHI, U.N. GOALS ROADMAP FOR KOZHIKODE The CPM-led LDF has released detailed manifestos for multiple corporations. In Kochi, its focus is on practical improvements: canal rejuvenation, systematic road cleaning, value-added waste products, and EVs for the Haritha Karma Sena. It also proposes an electric bus network with KSRTC, renovation of key bus stands and new mobility solutions like multi-level parking and bike sharing. In Kozhikode, the LDF has gone a step further. Its manifesto states the corporation will work to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2031 if the front returns to power. The document outlines a sweeping development agenda: Transforming Kozhikode into an IT hub; implementing a light metro project; continuing the City Road Improvement Project; building new roads and infrastructure; and constructing a flyover at Eranhipalam. LDF, which has governed Kozhikode for over 45 years, attributes its long run to timely implementation of development projects, an argument it hopes will resonate again.