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Watch: Kerala local polls: UDF surge, BJP wins Thiruvananthapuram Corporation
The Congress led UDF recorded a decisive victory in the Kerala local body elections, dealing a major setback to the ruling LDF.
UDF sweeps four Corporations, LDF reduced to one, BJP opens score
The UDF secures 46 out of 76 seats in Kochi and gains ground in Thrissur and Kollam, highlighting a changing political landscape. The LDF retains Kozhikode Corporation, while the NDA celebrates its first municipal victory in Thiruvananthapuram.
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Tharoor congratulates BJP on Keralas civic body poll win in his constituency
New Delhi: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday, while lauding the win of the UDF in Kerala local bodies elections, also congratulated the BJP for its historic performance in his Thiruvananthapuram constituency, calling it the beauty of democracy. In a post on X, he said the peoples verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF 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 .
The BJP-led NDA achieved significant gains in Kerala's local body elections, securing a majority in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation after 45 years of Left rule. The NDA also retained Palakkad municipality and wrested Thrippunithura Municipality from the Congress-led UDF, signaling a potential shift in the state's political landscape ahead of the assembly elections.
Beauty Of Democracy: Shashi Tharoor Lauds BJP's Historic Thiruvananthapuram Civic Polls Win
In the 101-member Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP secured 50 wards, while the LDF won 29, the UDF 19, and independent candidates claimed two.
BJP-led NDA creates history in Kerala local polls, unseats LDF in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation
Of the 101 wards in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP won 50, LDF 29, UDF 19 and two by independent candidates
Kerala local body polls: UDF makes a strong comeback in Alappuzha, sweeps Malappuram
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) emerged victorious as the counting of votes for the 2025 Kerala local body elections concluded on Saturday. UDF made a comeback in Alappuzha district, showcasing a thumping victory over the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), signalling a significant turnaround from the 2020 results. The IUML-led United Democratic Front (UDF) tightened its political dominance in Malappuram and won an overwhelming majority of local bodies. Despite deep internal conflicts , rebellions, and factional infighting within the Congress and allied parties, the UDF retained Kattappana and Thodupuzha municipalities. UDF leads in Malappuram In Malappuram, the Front secured victory in all block panchayats except Ponnani. The UDF recorded a clean sweep in urban local bodies as well, winning all 11 municipalities, including key centres such as Nilambur and Perinthalmanna. A significant turnaround was seen in Perinthalmanna municipality, where the UDF returned to power after a gap of three decades. The IUML also staged a strong comeback in Nilambur municipality. With the backing of MLA P V Anvar, the UDF won all local bodies in the Nilambur Assembly constituency, including Vazhikkadavu, Moothedam, Edakkara, Karulai and Pothukal grama panchayats. Reacting to the results, IUML general secretary P K Kunhalikutty said the verdict reflected public rejection of the CPM-led LDFs politics. The CPM and the LDF were spreading divisive communal hatred among the people. This election has shown how decisively the public has rejected that agenda, he told the media. Meanwhile, IUML state president Pannakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the outcome would have a direct bearing on the forthcoming Assembly elections. We thank the people for this victory. The mandate has exceeded our expectations. This election result marks our path to the Thiruvananthapuram Secretariat, he said. UDF's comeback in Alappuzha In the previous local body elections, the LDF had dominated Alappuzha district, winning more than 50 gram panchayats. In the municipalities, both Fronts had secured three each. However, this time, the trend has shifted decisively in favour of the UDF, gaining substantial ground in the gram panchayats and winning five of the six municipalities in the district. The UDF has also made notable gains in the district panchayat, where it is leading in a majority of divisions. This marks a major setback for the LDF, which had swept 22 of the 23 divisions in the 2020 elections. In Alappuzha municipality, the UDF emerged as the single largest front, winning 23 of the 53 divisions. The LDF secured 21 divisions, while the NDA won five. Four divisions were secured by others, including one each to the SDPI and PDP and two independent candidates. The outcome has resulted in a hung council, with independent members expected to play a decisive role in the formation of the municipal administration. In 2020, the LDF had won 35 seats, while the UDF had managed only 11. In Chengannur municipality, the UDF retained power by winning 13 divisions. The NDA won six divisions, the LDF won five, and independent candidates secured three seats. The LDF retained control of Cherthala municipality with 18 seats, while the UDF won 10 and the NDA secured four seats. The UDF retained Haripad municipality, winning 12 seats. The LDFs tally fell sharply to five seats from 10 in 2020. The NDA strengthened its presence by winning six seats, one more than in the previous election. In Kayamkulam municipality, the UDF wrested power from the LDF by securing 16 seats. The LDF, which had ruled the municipality with 23 seats in 2020, was reduced to nine seats. The NDA won four seats, marking a gain of one. Mavelikkara, which witnessed a triangular contest in 2020 with the LDF, UDF, and NDA winning nine seats each, saw a decisive shift in favour of the UDF this time. The UDF won 15 seats to secure a clear majority, while the NDA won eight seats and the LDF secured just four seats. UDF scrapes through Kattappana and Thodupuzha The UDF emerged victorious in both municipalities, defying expectations that sustained internal turmoil would hand an advantage to the LDF. Party insiders, however, described the outcome as a 'survival win' rather than a 'comfortable' victory. In Kattappana municipality, the UDF secured 20 seats, the LDF secured 12 seats, and others secured 3 seats. LDF candidate CR Murali emerged as a notable figure, defeating AICC member and former MLA EM Augusthy. Disputes over seat allocation escalated into a full-blown social media drama, with Facebook posts, WhatsApp forwards, and cryptic status updates overshadowing official campaign announcements. The entry of rebels, such as former municipal chairperson Beena Joby, denied her preferred ward, further splitting the local cadre. Even before polling, the Congress in Kattappana was grappling with internal rebellion. A section of party loyalists openly campaigned against their own senior leader, EM Augusthy, accusing the leadership of sidelining long-time workers. Former councillor Prashanth Raju and other activists posted critical throwbacks and commentary, creating a digital spectacle that drew more attention than formal campaign messaging. Dissatisfaction over ward redistribution and lack of consensus in candidate selection led to parallel campaigns within the same political camp. Meanwhile, rebels influenced outcomes in several wards, reducing margins for the candidates. A senior Congress leader acknowledged that while organisational strength and the traditional voter base helped the UDF stay afloat and the internal rift significantly weakened campaign coordination. This could have easily slipped away, the leader said, noting that reconciliation within the party will be essential for smooth municipal functioning. In Thodupuzha municipality, the UDF won 19 seats, while the LDF managed to secure 3 seats, the NDA won 9 seats, and others secured 7 seats. Despite many odds, the Front managed to edge past its rivals, aided by vote consolidation in key wards and traditional alliance arithmetic.
BJP registers big win in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation polls
Thiruvananthapuram: The lotus bloomed in the state capital as the BJP-led NDA achieved a resounding win in the polls for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, snatching it from the CPI(M)-led LDF and marking an end to 45 years of continuous Left rule in the local body. The win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation will act as a boost 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 local body polls: Public anger against Pinarayi govt fueled UDF momentum, says VD Satheesan
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan attributed the United Democratic Fronts (UDF) victory in the local body elections to strong anti-incumbency sentiments and the CPMs shift toward majority appeasement. He argued that the CPM had adopted the communal agenda of the BJP, which ultimately benefited the latter, particularly in Thiruvananthapuram. Before the parliamentary elections, the CPM pursued minority appeasement, only to later switch to majority appeasement. UDF had consistently warned that such a strategy would serve only the BJP. The approach once followed by EMS in 1987 cannot succeed in 2025 or 2026, Satheesan said. Calling the win a continuation of UDFs success in recent by-elections, Satheesan dedicated the victory to Team UDF, which he said worked cohesively. UDF is not merely a coalition of parties; it is a political platform shaped by diverse social factors. The people have demonstrated that Team UDF is the largest political platform in Kerala, and it is poised to drive change, he added. Satheesan further noted that public resentment against the Pinarayi government was evident, and remarks by CPM leader MM Mani that belittled voters reflected the mindset of the CPM leadership. Expressing gratitude to the people, Satheesan assured that Team UDF would rise to the challenge of honouring the trust placed in them. He said the public response has energised the UDF ahead of the upcoming assembly elections . Our preparations for the big battle will continue in the months ahead. Candidates will be announced earlier this time, and discussions are already underway, he said. #WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram | On Kerala local body elections result, LoP Kerala Assembly & Congress leader VD Satheesan says, I express my gratitude to the people of Kerala for the wonderful victory to UDF... This is the biggest victory we have ever seen... We have submitted a pic.twitter.com/Ah8Z7mXVgI ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
BJP-led NDA wins 50 wards in the 101-ward Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, while the LDF was reduced to 29 wards. UDF wins 19 seats, a strong comeback for the front
Kerala local body polls: PM Modi thanks voters of Thiruvananthapuram for NDAs victory
The NDA won from 50 wards in the 101-ward Corporation, while the LDF was reduced to 29 wards
NDAs win in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation watershed moment in Kerala politics: PM Modi
New Delhi, Dec 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday termed the mandate received by the BJP-led NDA in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation a watershed moment in Keralas politics and expressed gratitude to the BJP workers for the spectacular results. The Left parties suffered a major setback in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, held by them for 45 years, as the BJP-led NDA surged ahead with a huge lead. Reacting to the civic body results, the prime minister said it is a day [] The post NDAs win in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation watershed moment in Kerala politics: PM Modi appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Besides this, NDA retained the Palakkad municipality after a close battle with UDF and wrested the Thrippunithura Municipality from the grand old party.
Kerala election results 2025: The BJP-led NDA received a huge boost after the alliance crossed the magic mark in Thiruvanathapuram Corporation. R Sreelekha's win from Thiruvananthapuram came as big relief for the party. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also acknowledged BJP's 'historic performance' and called it 'notable shift in the capital's political landscape.'
Post-poll arithmetic pushes UDFLDF talks in Palakkad municipality to block NDA
PALAKKAD: With no political front securing a clear majority in the Palakkad municipality, post-poll negotiations have swiftly moved from informal exchanges to structured political engagement. Senior party leaders and local functionaries across fronts confirm that exploratory talks are underway between the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to forge a tactical understandingon the lines of an INDIA-bloc-style coordination at the civic levelto prevent the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from forming the municipal administration. The municipal arithmetic has left little room for ambiguity. In the 53-member council, the NDA has emerged as the single largest bloc with 25 seats, falling two short of the 27 required for a simple majority. The UDF has secured 18 wards, the LDF nine, along with the presence of a Congress rebel. Taken together, the UDFLDF tally comfortably crosses the majority mark, providing the numerical basis for a potential alternative administration, should both fronts agree on a working arrangement. Signals from the fronts Public statements from UDF leaders underline the seriousness of the discussions. Palakkad UDF convenor Balagopal P told TNIE that the priority is to keep the NDA out of power, with the finer contours of any arrangement to be decided at the state leadership level. The emphasis, he suggested, is on political strategy rather than immediate portfolio negotiations. At any cost, we will keep away NDA from the power, he affirmed. Kerala local body polls: UDF makes history, sweeps panchayats, corporations; NDA secures Thiruvananthapuram Meanwhile, a visibly shaken BJP state vice president C Krishnakumar, who spearheaded the NDAs campaign in Palakkad, hoping to win at least 32 wards this time, described any UDFLDF understanding as a distortion of the electoral mandate. He argued that both fronts had tacitly worked against the NDA during the polls and maintained that the BJPs emergence as the largest bloc reflected voter endorsement despite those efforts. The political churn in Palakkad carries significance beyond local governance. Over the past decade, the municipality has occupied a pivotal place in Keralas political landscape as the first civic body where the BJP succeeded in capturing poweran event widely seen as a turning point in the partys expansion at the grassroots level in the state. As negotiations continue behind the scenes, the final shape of Palakkads municipal administration will hinge not just on arithmetic, but on how far traditional rivals are willing to stretch political pragmatism to achieve a shared objective.
BJP candidate R Sreelekha won from the Sasthamangalam division in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation in a big boost for the NDA. R Sreelekha is the first woman IPS officer who retired as DGP in 2020 and later joined the BJP. She earned the title of 'Raid Sreelekha' or her high-visibility operations when she was on deputation with the CBI.
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
Congress candidate who moved Kerala HC for name reinstatement in electoral roll, wins Muttada ward
Vyshna SL, the Congress candidate from Muttada division of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, won with a margin of over 300 votes in the local body polls. She had to move the Kerala High Court to reinstate her name in the electoral roll. Vyshna had approached the Kerala HC after getting a notice from the State Election Commission (SEC) informing that her name had been removed from the voters' list. Subsequently, the High Court ordered the SEC to reexamine her claim. Thereafter, the SEC conducted a hearing and reinstated her name on the voters list. The Congress alleged LDF conspiracy behind the removal of Vyshna's name from the voters' list. Talking to reporters after her win, Vyshna SL said it was a win for democracy. She added that this is an occasion to be proud and happy. She also remarked that people recognised the Congress's hard work.
Huddle Global 2025 kicks off at Kovalam
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Startup festival Huddle Global 2025, organised by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), began at Kovalam here on Friday. The three-day event offers vast opportunities for startups, including funding and mentor support. An expo of innovative products and an all-India hackathon are among the highlights. Addressing the opening session, Finance Minister K N Balagopal said the global landscape is transforming with rapid digitalisation through domains like AI, automation and shipping supply chains. He briefed about the steps taken by the Kerala Government to accelerate the states development. The Vizhinjam-Kollam-Punalur triangle is emerging as one of the most strategic development zones combining port growth, industrial capacity and inland connectivity. With the Vizhinjam Port as its gateway, southern Kerala and Tamil Nadu as a manufacturing and maritime services hub, and the engineering and agro industrial centre in the Punalur-Tenkasi belt, the triangle offers unmatched potential for logistics, electronics, food processing and clean tech industries, he said. The digital and science park projects in the state are designed to bring global technology companies, advanced research labs and leading universities focusing on AI, robotics, semiconductor technologies, food technologies, optics and digital engineering. IT secretary Sambasiva Rao said Keralas evolving talent strength has deep expertise in domains like AI, inter-sciences and finance, combined broad skills in engineering, data and cybersecurity. We are creating a unique high-performing workforce that gives industry partners strong retention and consistent innovation. Apart from an attrition rate of 8-10 percent, affordability of talent, quality of life and cost of space make Kerala nearly 40-65 percent more cost-effective for long-term capability building, he said.
Thiruvananthapuram Corporation to adopt Chennai-model ABC centre for stray dog management
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With stray dog management remaining a persistent challenge in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram corporation is planning to adopt the Greater Chennai Corporations model of an exclusive animal birth control (ABC) centre-cum-multispeciality veterinary hospital. The proposal comes amid rising concerns over public safety and growing rabies cases, with 21 confirmed infections being reported within the corporation limits between January and December this year. The civic body is now gearing up to revise its existing plan for an ABC centre and veterinary hospital at Thiruvallam by incorporating key features from the Chennai facility. According to officials, the Chennai centres stand out for their efficient design and minimal noise and environmental pollution. Chennais ABC centres are soundproof, fully covered, and scientifically designed. They also function as one-stop centres for pet emergencies and rescued animals, a senior corporation official told TNIE. We are awaiting the secretarys permission to visit the Chennai facility, likely next month. Our multispeciality hospital proposal will be updated based on the ABC centre in Chennai, the official added. Local residents have long been raising concerns about barking, foul smell, and wastewater discharge from existing ABC centres. The official added that the Chennai model effectively addresses these issues through soundproof materials and scientific waste management systems. Kerala still lacks ideal models. So it is important to study successful initiatives outside the state, the official said. The corporation has earmarked `4.5 crore for the Thiruvallam project, though officials admit that the estimated cost may rise. The Greater Chennai Corporation set up its facility at a cost of around `7 crore, with a capacity to sterilise around 30 dogs a day. Thiruvananthapuram corporation has already identified land near the existing ABC centre at Vandithadam for the proposed project. Animal crematorium on the anvil, corp seeks CSR funding In a major initiative, Thiruvananthapuram corporation has proposed establishing the citys first animal crematorium to ensure scientific disposal of animal carcasses and dead strays. The project, drawn up with the support of a Mumbai-based NGO, is expected to cost around `35 lakh. We have submitted the proposal to the district collector, seeking CSR funding. Currently, both citizens and the corporation struggle to dispose of carcasses of dead animals. At the ABC centre, we often treat sick and injured strays, and when they die, we are forced to bury them. A crematorium is an urgent requirement, the official added.
16 counting centres arranged in the Thiruvananthapuram district for local body polls
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A total of 16 counting centres have been set up across Thiruvananthapuram district for the upcoming local body elections, covering the corporation, municipalities and block panchayats. The counting for the Thiruvananthapuram corporation will take place at Mar Ivanios College. Votes from wards 1 to 26 and 27 to 51 will be counted in two sections on the ground floor hall located between the St. George Building and the Little Flower Block of Sarvodaya Vidyalaya. Counting for wards 52 to 76 will be held at the badminton court on the ground floor of Mar Theophilus Training College, while votes from wards 77 to 101 will be counted in the basement floor yard bus garage of Sarvodaya Vidyalaya. In the municipal areas, the designated counting centres are: Government Higher Secondary School, Neyyattinkara for Neyyattinkara municipality; BHS Mancha for Nedumangad municipality; and the Attingal municipal office for Attingal municipality. Counting at the Attingal Municipal Office will take place at three locations -- the area in front of the building, the meeting hall on the third floor and the industries and commerce departments helpdesk on the second floor. The Varkala municipal office will serve as the counting centre for Varkala municipality. At the block and grama panchayat level, the counting centres are:Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Parassala; Government High School, Marayamuttam, Perungadavila; New Higher Secondary School, Nellimoodu, Athiyannoor; Government VHSS, Malayinkeezhu, Nemom; St. Xaviers College, Thumba, Pothencode; G Karthikeyan Memorial Vocational Higher Secondary School, Vellanad; Govt Girls Higher Secondary School, Nedumangad; Govt Vocational Higher Secondary School, Pirappancode, Vamanapuram; Government HSS, Kilimanoor; Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Attingal, Chirayinkeezhu; Sree Narayana College, Sivagiri, Varkala.
Two varsities in Kerala to foot Rs 31.2L VC search panel bill
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has directed the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and Digital University Kerala (DUK) to foot the bill equally for expenses incurred to the tune of Rs 31.20 lakh for shortlisting of vice chancellor probables in both universities by a Supreme Court-appointed search committee. Of this, Rs 18 lakh is the honorarium to Justice (Retd) Sudhanshu Dhulia who headed the panel. The panel had conducted interviews of VC candidates in the two universities for four days and also conducted online meetings on two days. The apex court had directed that the chairman of the panel should be paid Rs 3 lakh for each day of proceedings of the panel.
30th IFFK opens, extends solidarity with survivor in actor abduction and rape case
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Honouring the resilience of the survivor in the actor abduction case, the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) opened in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday with a message of solidarity. Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian declared that the festival stands with the survivor in the 2017 actor assault case, reiterating that Kerala and the state government will remain with her throughout her fight for justice. Addressing a packed audience at the Nishagandhi Auditorium, the minister recalled the moment at the 26th IFFK when Kurdish filmmaker Lisa Calan received the Spirit of Cinema Award.Standing beside her was the beloved Malayalam actress and survivor. She was celebrated as a symbol of womens resistance. The crowd of over 2,000 delegates rose in a long ovation, loudly affirming, We are with her. The festival continues to stand with her always, the minister said. Reaffirming the festivals dedication to the survivor, the minister announced that this years edition is being held as an expression of solidarity with her. Marking its landmark 30th edition, IFFK lit 30 lamps at the inaugural ceremony. The minister noted that the festival remains committed to people who courageously fight for justice and continues to play a crucial role in sustaining Keralas cultural dynamism. Actor abduction and rape case: Who is madam behind quotation? He made this remark while referring to the presence of Palestinian Ambassador Abdulla M Abu Shawesh. He described the festival as a cultural resistance movement that counters authoritarian and communal tendencies and upholds the values of humanism. He also noted that IFFK is the only film festival in the country that has completed 30 editions with extensive public participation. He also mentioned that Chalachitra Academy chairman Resul Pookutty could not attend the inauguration due to a prior engagement in London but would be present at the closing ceremony. Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larran, attending as chief guest, praised the festivals catalogue and said the selection reflects curiosity and openness to world cultures. Saji Cherian presented the Spirit of Cinema Award to Canadian filmmaker Kelly Fyffe Marshall, who said the honour would remain with her for life. IFFK, she said, has always celebrated courage. Speaking about her work rooted in the struggles of the Black community, she emphasised that injustices across the world are interconnected and that liberation is collective. She reminded the audience that film has the power to connect people beyond borders and urged communities to create ripples of change. The guests of honour included Palestines Ambassador to India Abdullah M Abu Shawesh and Germanys Ambassador to India Philipp Akerman. At the ceremony, the minister released Karunayude Camera, a book on the late filmmaker Shaji N Karun, handing the first copy to his wife Anasooya Shaji. He also felicitated filmmaker Bui Thac Chuyen of Vietnam. The minister also honoured filmmaker Rajeevnath for completing 50 years in cinema. P T Kunju Muhammed misses inaugural event THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Filmmaker and producer P T Kunju Muhammed was absent at the inaugural ceremony of the IFFK on Friday. His absence comes days after the Cantonment police in Thiruvananthapuram registered a case against him for allegedly molesting a woman associated with the film industry while they were staying at a city hotel during the Malayalam movie selection process for the festival.
Local body polls: Results to reveal Keralas political mood ahead of assembly election
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Clouded for months by sexual assault allegations involving expelled MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, Keralas political climate is set for a decisive shift as the local body election results roll in on Saturday. For the LDF which has enjoyed close to a decade in power, the numbers will be unforgiving. Any slide in corporations, district panchayats, municipalities and grama panchayats will be read either as a verdict on its governance record or a clear sign of anti-incumbency. The result will be decisive in shaping its course towards the next assembly election for the UDF, which has been out of power for almost 10 years. Compared to the two fronts, the result will be an indicator of the future of NDA which strives to achieve a reliable third force position in the state. CPM sources said the party had approached the election with utmost caution considering the anti-incumbency factor. Our focus remains on development politics and welfare measures implemented by our government, said a senior leader. Reports from some district committees suggest cross voting by BJP supporters for the UDF in certain wards where the former is not strong. The CPM leadership also believes the Sabarimala gold theft case will have only minimal impact, especially after the arrest of two former Travancore Devaswom Board presidents. A setback for the LDF would force the CPM to undertake a serious introspection on governance and strategies to counter anti-incumbency. The polls also mark the first significant election test for state secretary M V Govindan since assuming office. For the UDF, the results will serve as a litmus test of its revival prospects. Congress leaders are confident of improving on their earlier dismal performance in 2020. They also reject the CPM claim that the Sabarimala issue will not influence voters. Despite the KPCC declaring the matter irrelevant after taking action against Rahul, many within Congress and the UDF fear the handling of the controversy and the public sparring among senior leaders may hurt the fronts prospects. There is a strong anti-government wave in the state, said a Congress leader. However, several leaders within the party warn that a poor performance could force the UDF into a position that would be difficult to recover from. The election is also a critical test for KPCC president Sunny Joseph and three working presidents who are leading the first major election. The BJP, meanwhile, has set an ambitious target of 25 per cent vote share in this election, following a directive from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. BJP will be the true beneficiary of the Sabarimala issue. In Christian-dominated areas too, we will do better, said a BJP leader. For state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the election is a test of his emphasis on development politics, a marked shift from the partys Hindutva approach. Failure to capture power in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur corporation or retain power in Palakkad and Pandalam municipalities will be viewed as a significant setback for both the party, and Chandrasekhar personally.
Kerala local body polls: Migration, disillusionment drag voter turnout to 20-year low
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keralas local body election delivered a sobering statistic. The state logged its lowest voter turnout in two decades, slipping to 73.69%, down 2.26 percentage points from the previous poll in 2020 -- which was held nine months after the Covid outbreak was declared a global pandemic. In line with long-standing trends, the seven northern districts once again outperformed the south, drawing over five percentage points more voters to polling booths from Thrissur to Kasaragod. An indication of the poor voter participation across the state was evident when the first phase of polling was completed in districts from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam. Only a little over 70% of voters chose to exercise their franchise in the southern districts, compared with over 75% in the north. The first phase saw Ernakualam and Alappuzha clocking the best turnout figures of 74.57% and 73.82% respectively. Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram were at the tail end of the pack with turnouts of 66.78% and 67.47% respectively. In the second phase, Wayanad and Malappuram were the top performers in terms of voter participation at 78.29% and 77.37% respectively. Voter apathy in the north was evident in Thrissur and Kasaragod that registered turnouts of 72.48% and 74.89% respectively. Across the state, the credibility of mainstream political parties and their leadership are under scrutiny, observed Prof G Gopakumar, political scientist and psephologist. A sizeable section of Keralas electorate is disillusioned. Even when voters wish to register an anti-incumbency sentiment, they are unsure about handing the reins to an inactive opposition or to the so-called third alternative, he noted. In the previous assembly election, nearly one lakh voters opted for none of the above (NOTA) option on EVMs. With no NOTA provision in local body polls, many disillusioned voters simply prefer to stay home, Gopakumar said. He added that political parties must undertake serious introspection on rising voter apathy, despite having mounted high-octane campaigns. S Irudaya Rajan, chair of the International Institute of Migration and Development, stressed that the effect of Keralas population shift on voter turnout should not be overlooked. In fact, migration is the major contributor for the decline in voter turnout. This includes inter-district, inter-state and international migration, he elaborated. Interestingly, a sizeable share of the missing voters are those who are registered in one district but reside in another for work. Many of them are unlikely to travel back just to vote in a civic poll, he explained. Also to be noted is a large chunk of young voters who have migrated overseas for higher studies. In districts such as Pathanamthitta and Kottayam, the overseas migration of entire families, coupled with a steady population decline, has pushed turnout figures sharply lower, he added. Irudaya also linked the higher turnout in northern districts to migration patterns. In north Kerala, migration is mostly to Gulf countries and usually limited to the familys breadwinner. In the south and central regions, migration to Europe and the United States often leads to whole families relocating. That disparity is reflected in voter participation region-wise, he said. Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner A Shajahan noted that this years local body polls saw the highest-ever number of voters at booths. Nearly 74,000 more votes were cast this time compared to the previous election, he said. However, it is notable that the 2020 election had 2.76 crore voters on the electoral roll compared with 2.86 crore this time.
All three political fronts expect improved showing in Thiruvananthapuram
While LDF appears confident of winning more than the 51 wards that the front won last time, UDF is vying to increase its tally from just 10 out of the 100 wards. For BJP, realising the decade-long push for power in the Corporation tops its agenda
High vector indices signal dengue alarm in Thiruvananthapuram district
Rise in mosquito density is a clear indication that dengue cases can spike any time, say senior Health officials
Vigilance court rejects ex-TDB chief Padmakumars bail plea in Sabarimala gold case
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kollam Vigilance court has turned down the bail plea of former Travancore Devaswom Board president and ex-MLA A Padmakumar , who has been arrested in the Sabarimala gold theft case . A former MLA from Konni and CPM Pathanamthitta district committee member, Padmakumar was arrested on November 20 by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the theft of gold from the door frames of the sanctum sanctorum. Padmakumars counsel argued that his custody was no longer required in the investigation and that the decision to allow moving the gold-plated sheets to outside for maintenance was a collective decision taken by the board. The prosecution vehemently objected to the bail plea following which the court turned it down. The police had earlier listed the board of 2019 as the eighth accused in the case pertaining to theft of gold from the door frame of the sreekovil. Padmakumar was the TDB president when the alleged offence took place. The co-accused in the case, who were arrested earlier, had reportedly testified that Padmakumar took a final call on moving the artefacts from the temple to Chennai. According to the SIT, Padmakumar had recorded the gold-plated copper sheets of the dwarapalaka idols and the door frames as copper in official records. The SIT had also claimed that the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti shared close ties with Padmakumar. The SIT has so far arrested six people, including former TDB president N Vasu, former Sabarimala administrative officer Murari Babu, former executive officer Sudheesh Kumar, middleman Potti and former Thiruvabharana Commissioner K S Biju. Sabarimala gold theft case: Fall from grace for ex-TDB chief Padmakumar from Pathanamthitta
Shashi Tharoor skips third key Congress meeting in a row, triggering fresh unease in party
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was again absent from a meeting of the partys Lok Sabha MPs chaired by Rahul Gandhi on Friday, extending a pattern of non-attendance that has drawn internal attention in recent weeks. The Thiruvananthapuram MP, already under scrutiny for remarks viewed by some colleagues as favourable to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has now missed three consecutive key meetings of the Congress parliamentary strategy groups. Party sources said Tharoor had informed the leadership of his unavailability in advance. Chandigarh MP Manish Tiwari was also absent. Tharoors public schedule showed he was in Kolkata on Thursday night for an event hosted by the Prabha Khaitan Foundation, suggesting he may not have returned to Delhi in time for Fridays meeting. Tharoors latest absence comes after he skipped the November 30 strategy meet chaired by Sonia Gandhi , which he attributed to being mid-flight from Kerala. I did not skip it; I was on a plane, coming from Kerala, he clarified on December 1, after questions were raised within the party. His office had also explained that he and his 90-year-old mother had been moved to a later flight, making it impossible to attend on time. KC Venugopal, too, had missed that meeting due to local body poll campaigning in Kerala. Im in Kolkata today for the wedding of my long-term aide John Koshy, and the birthday of my sister @SmitaTharoor . In between we are squeezing in a literary conversation with @TedhiLakeer as well! All welcome: pic.twitter.com/yhNy4UeCVq Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 11, 2025 He had earlier missed the November 18 Congress meeting on the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter re-verification exercise, citing ill health. That absence came a day after he attended a private event at which the Prime Minister spoke, an event followed by an X post from Tharoor praising certain aspects of the PMs speech. The comments sparked pushback from Congress leaders Supriya Shrinate and Sandeep Dikshit, with the latter even suggesting that Tharoor could consider leaving the party if he found Modi so impressive. Tharoor responded by stressing the need for cooperation across ideologies in Indias federal system. Why are you in Congress if you think BJPs strategies are better: Party lashes out at Tharoor after praise for PM His string of absences has revived unease in the party, particularly after he was the sole Congress representative invited to the state banquet hosted by the President for visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin . Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera had taken a pointed swipe then, remarking: Everyones conscience has a voice. When my leaders arent invited, but I am, we should understand why the game is being played, who is playing the game, and why we shouldnt be part of it. According to reports, the last major meeting Tharoor attended was in October, a six-hour-long session of Congress leaders from Kerala, also attended by Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, ahead of next years Assembly polls. At Fridays meeting, Rahul Gandhi reviewed the partys performance during the Winter Session and urged MPs to intensify their attacks on the government before the session concludes on December 19. Gandhi repeated his claim from Thursday that his and Priyanka Gandhis speeches had left Home Minister Amit Shah nervous, saying Shah used the wrong language and appeared under tremendous mental pressure.
Shashi Tharoor Skips Rahul Gandhi's Meet With Congress MPs For Third Time In Three Weeks
The Thiruvananthapuram MP, who has been under the scanner after a series of remarks seen as unusually warm toward PM Modi, said that he was in Kolkata for personal commitments
Shashi Tharoor Skips Rahul Gandhi's Meet For Congress MPs, 3rd Time In A Row
The Thiruvananthapuram MP widely seen as being on thin ice with the Congress' central leadership after comments that seem to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP missed a meeting, his third in as many weeks, of the party's Lok S
Thiruvananthapuram Central redevelopment gathers pace with major works underway
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The massive Rs 495-crore redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station, the principal hub of the capital city, is advancing at a rapid pace. Comprehensive development activities are in progress to transform the station with a modern architectural design and upgraded passenger-friendly facilities. The major works have been divided into two distinct segments, the construction of the north block at the Thampanoor side and the south block at the Power House Road side. The piling work for both blocks has already been completed, and foundation works have commenced simultaneously at each end. Inevitably, the large-scale redevelopment has caused temporary inconvenience to the public. Passenger entry through the Power House Road has been cordoned off, restricting access exclusively to the Thampanoor side. At the Power House end, a multi-level car parking facility along with a new south block comprising offices and passenger amenities is under construction. Additionally, a portion of the platform near the escalator has been covered to facilitate ongoing works. The redevelopment projects have been meticulously planned to ensure enhanced facilities for passengers while elevating the station to international standards. Upon completion, Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is expected to emerge as a major hub that will redefine the identity of the capital city. The overarching objective of the project is to provide travellers with superior amenities and a significantly improved travel experience. On the Power House side, a new building for the running crew has already been completed. The railway authorities are in the process of relocating the crew from the existing office at the Thampanoor side to this newly constructed facility. The redevelopment contract for Thiruvananthapuram Central was awarded to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd, with the Southern Railway Zone supervising the project.
Air Marshal Manish Khanna visits Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command Marshal Manish Khanna on Thursday visited the Technopark and interacted with industry leaders and startups with a focused interest in the defence and aerospace sectors. Technopark CEO Col Sanjeev Nair (Retd) received Air Marshal Manish Khanna and presented an overview of the states IT sector and about the Kerala Defence Innovation Zone (K-DIZ). Kerala stands as Indias most digitally empowered state where a thriving startup ecosystem, cutting-edge digital infrastructure, world-class institutions and a deep pool of innovators come together to shape the future of technology, said Colonel Sanjeev Nair (Retd) during his presentation. With K-DIZ enabling a strong Industry-Academia-Armed Forces connect, Kerala is poised to transform defence innovation. As innovators gain deeper insight into the challenges faced by our Forces and leverage opportunities like iDEX and TDF, the state can emerge as a premier hub, attracting leading private defence and aerospace players from across the country, he noted. Impressed by the strength of Keralas digital ecosystem, Air Marshal Khanna, during the interactive session, responded to the collaboration possibilities raised by industry leaders and noted that the Air Force offers substantial avenues for startups to engage with the aerospace and defence sectors. Startups and companies in the aerospace domain can reach out to the Regional Aerospace Innovation Division (RAID) for guidance, user perspectives and insights into operational challenges. An IAF officer from RAID will also participate as a panellist at the upcoming Huddle Global event, where he will share deeper inputs on aerospace design, innovation and indigenisation, and outline emerging opportunities for collaboration, said Air Marshal Khanna. He added that, as part of the stakeholder mapping under K-DIZ, the entity from IAF could be RAID.
To open with Ameenah Jaleels Palestine 36; 11 films to be screened at IFFK
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Retelling the rich legacy of endless love for cinema, the 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will begin on Friday with 11 films. Making a bold political statement, Palestine 36 , directed by Ameenah Jaleel, will be screened as the inaugural film at the Nishagandhi Open Theatre at 6pm. The World Cinema category will also be launched on Friday, with the screening of Emmanuel Finkiels Marianas Room, Erkan Yazicis Fragments from the East, and Thomas Ngijols Untamable at the Kairali-Sree theatres. Beef by Ingride Santos and the restored classic Chopin: A Sonata in Paris by Michal Kwiecinski will be screened at the Tagore Theatre. Pauline Lequesnes Nino will be screened at Kalabhavan in the Female Focus category. Laura Citarellas The Virgin of the Quarry Lake will be screened under the Latin American Films category at Kalabhavan. Filmmaker Rajeevnath to be honoured Acclaimed director and former Chalachithra Academy chairperson T Rajeevnath will be honoured at IFFK for completing 50 years in the film industry. Rajeevs film Janani (1999), which won the National Award for Best Director, will also have a special screening as part of this. A man of experimental films, his noted films include Thanal, Kadaltheerathu, Aham, Pakal Nakshathrangal, among others. Chief secy: Need digital archives to store IFFKs legacy Chief secretary A Jayatilak said that digital archives are essential to preserve the festivals cultural legacy and showcase it before the coming generations. He was inaugurating the IFFK festival office at the Tagore Theatre here. Urging the Chalachitra Academy to take this up, he said that digitising the catalogues from the previous years will help film lovers, students and researchers. Lijomol receives first delegate kit Cultural department director Divya S Iyer inaugurated the delegate kit distribution by handing over the first kit to state award-winning actress Lijomol Jose. Calling IFFK the states pride, Divya spoke about how community viewing can change ones cinematic experience. Speaking after receiving the delegate kit, Lijomol also shared her experience from 2013, when she attended the festival as a delegate. The event, which was presided over by Chalachithra Academy vice-chairperson Cuckoo Parameswaran, was attended by academy secretary C Ajoy, KSFDC chairman K Madhu, among others.
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.
Houseboat accidents spark concerns in Keralas much-touted tourism hubs
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A series of houseboat accidents across Alappuzha and Kottayam districts has triggered concerns over tourist safety and exposed serious regulatory lapses in Keralas iconic backwater tourism sector. On Wednesday, a family of four miraculously escaped after the houseboat they were staying in capsized at Kumarakom. All occupants were rescued safely. Experts are calling for urgent government intervention to curb illegal operators, enforce compliance, and strengthen safety protocols to save houseboat tourism - one of the states most iconic tourism products. This incident on Wednesday adds to the troubling pattern of mishaps reported in recent months. In September 2025, a moored houseboat sank at Cheepunkal due to suspected hull leakage. The vessel was later found to be operating without a valid licence. Earlier this month, another houseboat carrying two tourists and three crew members caught fire in the Alappuzha backwaters. The boat was completely gutted, but all five on board were evacuated in time. Industry stakeholders are blaming the apathy and inaction by the government for the growing accidents which are adversely impacting the backwater tourism sector. Unauthorised operations continue to flourish in Alappuzha and Kumarakom, even as the Kerala State Maritime Board struggles to implement the Inland Vessel Act and bring ageing houseboats under the new regulatory regime. The official data from the Kerala State Maritime Board shows that the Alappuzha Port registry alone has 942 houseboats, 597 shikaras, 360 motorboats, 314 speedboats and 22 ferries. However, according to the All Kerala House Boat Owners and Operators Samiti, more than 1,600 houseboats are currently operating in the backwaters. Nearly 75% of these houseboats are functioning without proper authorisation. Safety and rescue drills are almost non-existent, and awareness programmes for operators are rarely conducted. With no meaningful action from the government, our association has been forced to organise training sessions for workers in the houseboat industry, said Kevin Rozario, state secretary of the All Kerala House Boat Owners and Operators Samiti. He alleged that both the government and the Tourism Department remain totally inactive on the issue. We have repeatedly taken up these concerns with the government, but there has been no response. Houseboats and backwater tourism are part of the hospitality sector, yet the Tourism Department offers no support or training in hospitality for those employed in this segment. Tourism footfall has been declining year after year, and it is high time the government made concrete interventions to address these issues, he added. Officials of the Kerala State Maritime Board acknowledge that enforcement gaps have enabled illegal and unsafe vessels to operate freely. We are trying our best to bring the entire fleet under the Inland Vessel Act, 2021. Our enforcement teams conduct multiple inspections every month to curb illegal operations and issue registration and licences under the Act. Many of the houseboats involved in recent accidents lacked proper registration and licensing, an official said. Tourism industry experts stress that the state government must issue clear directives and make the Tourism Department more accountable in regulating the houseboat sector. The government should make NoC and classification from the Tourism Department mandatory for all houseboats, and the Maritime Board should issue licences only to boats that have this clearance. Houseboats are a hospitality product, and it is high time the department treated them as such, said tourism consultant Prasanth Vasudev, former deputy director of the Tourism Department. Series of accidents On Wednesday, a family of four escaped after the houseboat they were staying in capsized at Kumarakom. All occupants were rescued safely. Earlier this month, another houseboat carrying two tourists and three crew members caught fire in the Alappuzha backwaters. The boat was completely gutted, but all five on board were evacuated in time
CM Pinarayi, Resul skip IFFK opening ceremony
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As curtains for the International Film Festival of Kerala set to rise on Friday, top-guns are set to give the prestigious 30th edition a miss. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and state Chalachithra Academy chairperson Resul Pookutty will not attend the inaugural event, to be held at the capitals Nisagandhi auditorium in the evening. The noticeable absence of Resul Pookutty from the international festival has already triggered discussions within film circles. Despite this being the first IFFK after he took over as Academy chairperson, the Oscar winner will not be present for a major portion of the festival, as he has a pre-scheduled film shoot abroad, said sources. The chairman has conveyed that he would be away during the initial days of the festival. He would try to attend the valedictory function, said an academy executive member. Theres resentment within the academy over the chairmans absence during the crucial event. How can the chairman stay away during the festival, which is the biggest event being organised by the academy, that too when the festival completes three decades? asked another official. Pinarayi Vijayan The chairman is unable to make it due to pre-committed work, confirmed academy vice-chairperson Kukku Prameswaran. Hes out of India, working on a project that he committed to, way before taking over as academy chairperson. He has no choice but to complete it, she pointed out. Unlike the usual practice, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan too would give a miss to the festival inauguration, this time around. For the past many years, it was CM Pinarayi who as the chief guest, inaugurated the festival and presented the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award. This year however the CM is scheduled to inaugurate the sixth edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale in Fort Kochi on Friday evening, and hence would not be able to physically attend the IFFK inauguration. With no CM in the picture, academy officials did try to rope in actor Mohanlal who recently won the Dadasaheb Phalke award as the chief guest, but he was unavailable due to personal reasons. In the absence of the chief minister, Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan will inaugurate the festival. Chilean film director Pablo Larran will be the chief guest. Since the model code of conduct is in place, the minister had taken prior clearance from the Election Commission to attend the event. Palestine Ambassador Abdullah Abu Shawesh and German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann will be special guests at the event. The minister will present Spirit of Cinema award to Canadian filmmaker Kelly Fyffe-Marshall. The 30th IFFK to begin on Friday will screen 206 films from 82 countries, in 26 categories.
Parental involvement key to student well-being in Thiruvananthapuram coastal schools
Changathi project, a bio-psycho-social intervention project launched by NGO Kanal in 2023, shows parental involvement is closely linked to issues identified among students such as psycho-social difficulties, nutritional deficiencies, and academic neglect.
BLS International secures renewal of attestation, apostille services contract with MEA
MUMBAI, Dec 11: BLS International Services on Thursday said it has secured the renewal of its contract for attestation and apostille services with the External Affairs Ministry. The renewed contract covers its existing service operations across Delhi, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Panaji, Kochi, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, Patna and Puducherry, BLS International said in a statement. Under this agreement, BLS International will provide MEA attestation and apostille services for educational, non-educational, and commercial documents across [] The post BLS International secures renewal of attestation, apostille services contract with MEA appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
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.
Kerala local body polls: Second phase records 63.8% turnout by 3 pm
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An overall voter turnout of 63.8% was recorded at 3 pm in the second phase of the local body polls in seven northern districts of the state. Electors are choosing representatives to three tier panchayats in rural areas as well as municipalities and corporations in urban areas. The districts in which polling is being held in the second phase are: Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. Voting is being held in 18,274 polling stations from 7 am to 6 pm. Of these, 2,055 polling stations have been earmarked as sensitive. A total of 12,391 wards spread across 604 local bodies are facing the polls on Thursday. This includes 9,015 wards in 470 grama panchayats, 1,177 wards in 77 block panchayats, 182 divisions in seven district panchayats, 1,829 wards in 47 municipalities and 188 wards in three Corporations. As many as 1.53 crore voters, including 72.46 lakh men, 80.90 lakh women and 161 transgender persons figure in the voters' list in local bodies that are going to polls in the first phase. Another 3,293 overseas voters also figure in the electoral roll. A total of 38,994 candidates are in the fray in the seven districts. The first phase of polling in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam concluded on December 9 with a turnout of around 70%. Results for both phases will be declared on December 13. 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
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.
Actor assault case: Cultural figures & activists gather in support of survivor in Thiruvananthapuram
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The trial court verdict in the actor assault case has sparked widespread debate across the state amid calls for solidarity with the survivor. On Wednesday, people from various walks of life gathered at Manaveeyam Veedhi in Thiruvananthapuram to express support to the survivors long fight for justice. A solidarity meeting, under the banner #Avalkoppam (With Her), held there in the evening had cultural figures, social activists and students in attendance. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam, addressing the gathering, said the survivor symbolised not just one individual but the collective conscience of society. She is not just one person. She is me, you and our society. She represents hope, truth and justice, he said. Among those who spoke were activist Beena Paul, actor Joby, filmmaker Vidhu Vincent, SEWA member Sonia George, Class 7 student Misriya of Nemom UP School, and dancer-activist Chemparvathy. Cultural activist R Parvathy Devi said solidarity gatherings would not end there. No organisation is officially leading this event. Many people with a sense of justice have responded on their own. Today is Human Rights Day, and the rights of survivors must be protected, she said. S Rahul, district secretary of the Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (PuKaSa), said the survivors struggle has opened a new space in Malayalam cinema, where people can hope to work with dignity. Boycotting the art of certain individuals must also be seen as a cultural expression, he said. One of the most powerful responses came from young student Misriya, who said she felt ashamed of having once enjoyed actor Dileeps films. Letting such people walk free makes parents fear for their daughters. He is a disgrace to the film industry, she said.
Major fire at Varkala resort triggers panic among tourists, local residents
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A major fire broke out at a resort on the North Cliff in Varkala on Wednesday, partially destroying the structure and triggering panic among tourists and local residents. The blaze was reported around 1.56pm at Calaila Boutique Stay. No casualties were reported, and all guests staying at the resort managed to escape unhurt. Fire and Rescue Services personnel rushed to the spot, but the fire tender could not be brought to the site due to the narrow access route. A fire personnel said that mini-tenders were called from two nearby stations to contain the blaze. Firefighters worked until 4 pm and managed to save a portion of the building. The fire is believed to have started after workers at the resort burned garbage on the premises. Strong winds caused the flames to spread rapidly to nearby structures, resulting in extensive damage. We were able to save the ground floor of the building. We had to source water from a nearby pool to douse the flames, a Fire and Rescue official said.
Thiruvananthapuram native flies out from Australia to cast vote
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: How far will you go for a vote-- a few kilometres, a ten-minute drive? Meet Arya Sasidharan, who travelled for over 32 hours, all the way from Australia to Thiruvananthapuram to cast her vote in the local body election. Arya, who made the trip with the sole aim of exercising her franchise on Tuesday early morning, will return to Australia next Monday to continue her Geology PhD studies at James Cook University in Queensland. Initially, I was a bit sad that I couldnt be here for the elections, but when situations turned favourable, I took an impulsive decision two days before the election, Arya, who is a voter from the Mudavanmugal ward of the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, said. Flight charges were the only concern she had, but the moment her husband noted that the charges dropped for a brief time, there was nothing else to think about. Multiple layovers, five airports and a tiring jet lag later, Arya landed in her hometown, much to the surprise of her parents. I made up a story to convince my parents, and hence they were flabbergasted to see me upon opening the door, Arya said. We may have our differences with political parties, but we should never let go of our biggest right in a democratic country for that cause. People say that the country is not developing enough, but how else will the country move forward if we refrain from voting too, she asked. Aryas question remains valid in a society where at least some youngsters find apolitical stands to be cool and who dont mind leaving their native country for better living conditions.
206 films from 82 countries to be screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With over 206 films from 82 countries ready to be screened across 26 categories, the Capital city is all set to welcome cinema lovers from across the world from Friday for the 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala. Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako will be presented the Lifetime Achievement Award in the 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). Five of his films, including the Oscar-nominated Timbuktu and Golden Bear-nominated Black Tea, will be screened under the category The Global Griot: Sissakos Cinematic Journey as part of the festival. Annemarie Jacirs Palestine 36, which talks about the resilience of the Palestinian people, will be the opening film of the festival. Set against the backdrop of the 1936 Palestine revolt, the film had earlier won the award for Best Film at the Tokyo International Film Festival. Reflecting the struggles of the Palestinian people, three films will be screened in the Palestine package, including Cherien Dabiss All Thats Left of You, Shai Carmeli-Pollaks The Sea, and Arab Nasser-Tarzan Nassers Once Upon A Time in Gaza. Attracting the fans of acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, the 4K restored version of his fan favourite film Pulp Fiction will also be screened in the festival. Three films of noted Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine, including Cairo Station, Alexandria Again and Forever, and The Other, will be screened in the Retrospective category. In the Contemporary Filmmaker in Focus category, three films of Indian parallel cinemas stalwart Saeed Mirza and five films of Indonesian new wave filmmaker Garin Nugroho will be screened. 57 films will be screened in the World Cinema category, including queer films The Little Trouble Girls, Enzo, Mirrors Number 3, The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo. Selected films of previous Lifetime Achievement Award winners, and those which have earlier won the Golden Crow Pheasant (Suvarna Chakoram), will also be shown as part of the festival. A lorry loaded with materials for the 30th IFFK preparations enters the main gate of Tagore Theatre, the main venue of the festival being held in Thiruvananthapuram from December 12 to 19 | Vincent Pulickal Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako will be presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala Lijomol to receive first delegate kit today State Award-winning actress Lijomol will receive the first delegate kit of IFFK at Tagore Theatre here on Thursday at 11am. Kits for other delegates will also be distributed here In solidarity Annemarie Jacirs Palestine 36 will be the opening film of the festival Reflecting the struggles of the Palestinian people, three films will be screened in the Palestine package
CM Pinarayi, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan spar over development issues
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, it was the turn of Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan to challenge Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for a public debate on his criticism against the Oppositions baseless objection towards development projects in Kerala. The chief minister can fix the date and place for the public debate, he said in a statement issued on Wednesday. Setting the agenda for the local body election for LDF, CM had unleashed criticism against UDF on issues ranging from sexual assault accusation against expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, alleged electoral understanding with Jamaat-e-Islami to Oppositions stance on development issues. In his reply, Satheesan reminded the chief minsiter that two CPM leaders are still in jail for their alleged involvement in the Sabarimala gold theft case. He also reiterated that in the case of sexual assault case, Congress had taken a stand that no other political parties in the country could take. However, later in the day, the chief minister said that leader of Opposition could not reply to any of the questions he had raised. On the other hand he has written something on Facebook as a reply to me. Unfortunately it is baseless and a tangle of mistakes. I could only describe it as pathetic, he said. The chief minister further criticised the Opposition for its stance of objecting everything. I am once again asking them what is their stand on LIFE Mission, Vizhinjam port, Wayanad Twin Tunnel, NH development, GAIL pipeline, extreme poverty eradication, Kerala Bank, K- fone, Chooralmala-Mundakkai and K Rail, he added.
Governor Rajendra Arlekar-Kerala government tussle on VC goes on, despite SC diktat
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Discussions between Governor Rajendra Arlekar and the state government on the selection of permanent vice-chancellors to two state universities ended in a deadlock on Wednesday, paving the way for the Supreme Courts direct intervention in the appointment process. It was on the basis of the apex courts directive to both parties that discussions were initiated to pick VCs for the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and the Digital University Kerala (DUK). The possibility of the process now being handled directly by the Supreme Court has increased after the directive to reach a consensus by December 9 was not complied with. The apex court is scheduled to take up the matter for further hearing on Thursday. The Supreme Court had stated that if the two sides are unable to reach a consensus, it would go ahead and carry out the appointments, said a Lok Bhavan source. While the government wants the appointment to go its way, conceding it would create a precedent, the source added, indicating that the Lok Bhavan wants the apex court to take the final call on the vexed issue. Efforts by ministers R Bindu and P Rajeeve to convince the governor to concur with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans selection of two academics proved futile. The governor was reportedly of the view that two other academics, who he wants appointed as VCs, were the most meritorious ones and there was no question of a rethink. The governor also reportedly expressed displeasure over the chief minister not holding direct discussions with him on the matter. Arlekar also pointed out that his queries on the credentials of the academics chosen by the chief minister were not provided to him, prompting him to recommend two academics of his choice before the apex court. Meanwhile, Minister Rajeeve said discussions with the governor would continue. The Supreme Court had laid down that the chief minister was entitled to recommend the shortlisted names in the order of his preference. However, the government wants the matter to be resolved through consensus, he added. VC appointment dispute As directed by the apex court, two separate search-cum-selection committees had shortlisted vice-chancellor probables for both universities. On the basis of the panels reports, the chief minister recommended to the governor that C Sathish Kumar and Saji Gopinath be chosen as the VCs of KTU and DUK, respectively. However, the governor recommended the appointment of Ciza Thomas for KTU and Priya Chandran for DUK. The governor contended that the academics he chose were shortlisted by both search panels, further validating their exemplary merit
At three per cent decline, Phase I turnout in Kerala sinks below pandemic-year levels
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Voter turnout has been slipping across successive local body elections in Kerala and the first phase of polling in the states southern districts has reinforced the trend. All seven districts posted a uniform 3% dip, offering a clear preview of the statewide trend. Notably, voter participation figure in these districts have dipped to levels lower than those recorded in 2020, a year marked by the Covid crisis. Pathanamthitta, known for its large NRI population and chronically low turnout, stayed true to pattern once again. It posted the lowest voter participation in Phase I at 66.78%, extending a trend it has held across multiple election cycles. The district also posts low turnout in assembly and Lok Sabha elections, largely because a significant share of its electorate lives overseas. Thiruvananthapuram registered the second lowest turnout that slipped to 67.47% from 70.02% in 2020. The decline was sharper when compared to the turnout of 71.9% recorded in 2015. Even more concerning was the voter participation in Thiruvananthapuram corporation, which fell to 58.29%, down from 59.96% in 2020 and 62.90% in 2015. Ernakulam, despite its largely urban profile, posted the highest turnout among the seven districts at 74.57%. However, there was also a nearly 3% dip compared to the previous election. Notably, Kochi corporation was the only major civic body to better its previous performance, inching up from 62.04% to 62.44%. Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Idukki districts also saw voter turnout fall by around 3%. State Election Commissioner A Shajahan said a clear statewide polling picture would emerge only after the northern districts also vote, on Thursday. Voter turnout in northern districts have traditionally been on the higher side compared to the south. So, when the final figures emerge, we may be able to analyse the overall trend, Shajahan told TNIE. Meanwhile, experts cite a mix of factors behind the trend. According to K M Sajad Ibrahim, psephologist and professor of political science at Kerala University, increasing voter apathy could be one of the prime factors for the dwindling turnout. Local body polls simply dont command the same seriousness among urban voters as state or national elections. Add to that the confusion over a separate civic voters list. Many find out too late that theyve been left off the rolls, he said. Also, several electors in Phase I complained that party workers were far less active in distributing voter slips compared to previous elections. Local body elections demand a well-oiled party machinery and committed cadre. We arent convinced if all parties bring the same energy to civic polls that they do to larger elections. That lack of drive may be showing up in the turnout as well, Ibrahim added.
KSRTC looks to be on song with Ganavandi
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: From exhaust notes to melodic scores, a group of KSRTC employees are looking to tune themselves up for runaway success. The 18-strong musical ensemble -- named Ganavandi will debut on Thursday at the Uchakkada Sree Durga Sree Dharmashastha temple, on the outskirts of the capital city. The musicians were assembled as part of an enterprising move to break the monotony of work and generate additional revenue for the corporation, which continues to struggle with its finances. The troupe brings together drivers, conductors and mechanics from depots as spread out as Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Pala, Vaikom, and Edapal -- and their family members. Selected on the basis of auditions, the well-drilled groups premiere will be a two-hour programme that will be interspersed with mimicry acts. The show will open with a classical performance by Neelambari, a Class 5 student and daughter of KSRTC conductor Devadas from Idukki. The debut is crucial, says Hena P N, KSRTCs chief law officer and cultural coordinator. Its success will help us further structure the troupe. We already have a pool of talented employees across zones who have volunteered out of their passion for art, and their skills will be utilised based on programme locations. The group has already secured six bookings across the state. Transport minister had mooted the idea It was the idea of Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, who wanted to cash in on the viral popularity of musical performances of the corporations employees. The acts at the Transport Expo held in August set the stage for the creation of the troupe. The shortlisted employees were asked to appear for auditions and those in the final list were given training at various depots. An employee even got his relative Sujin Dev, a music composer, to help put the group together. According to Hena, KSRTC is yet to finalise the remuneration for the first show. In future, the cultural committee will decide the fee. The revenue will go to the KSRTC. We have already received sponsorship and it is going to generate profit, she added. Ahead of its debut, the troupe will have its final rehearsal at Neyyattinkara depot.
Confusion over voters list, polling booths mark voting in Thiruvananthapuram coastal wards
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The coastal belt of Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation saw chaotic and uneven voting on Tuesday as thousands of residents turned out for the local body polls. Many voters struggled to find their assigned polling booths, while others discovered their names were missing from the voters list, forcing them to return home without casting their votes. Local activists estimated that 60 to 100 voters were absent from each polling booth in the coastal wards. Vishnu M, 31, who arrived at St Philomenas Girls High School in Poonthura, said he could not vote as his name was missing from the list, even though his entire family was able to cast their ballots. Similarly, 55-year-old Susamma had to check four different booths in search of her 23-year-old daughters name, but could not find it. The confusion follows ward delimitation, which reduced the number of coastal wards under Thiruvananthapuram Corporation from 17 to 14. Many families found members assigned to different booths or wards, leading to long queues at some locations while other booths remained nearly empty. Gertrude Perera, 60, said she and her daughter waited for hours at different booths due to the reallocation. CPM district secretary V Joy blamed the delay in starting the delimitation process for the confusion. Like old days, the political parties are not visiting homes for distributing slips and adding voters. These visits happen based on the political affiliation of the families and hence many people in the coastal wards were unable to cast their votes, said V Joy. Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan blamed the election commission and the LDF government for the unscientific ward delimitation and adding bogus votes. There has been a lot of confusion in the voters list and the public struggled to take part in the elections. This will affect all political fronts, not just the UDF, he said.
Techies step out of Technopark to cast votes in Kerala local body polls
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Election fervour gripped the city on polling day, and Technopark, home to nearly 80,000 employees across more than 450 companies, was no exception. The usually bustling IT campus ran with minimal staff as many professionals left their desks to cast their votes. Most companies followed employee-friendly policies in line with Election Commission directives, offering leave, work-from-home options, or flexible hours. Client support teams were allowed to adjust schedules without worrying about biometric attendance. Employees working for Bengaluru and Hyderabad-based firms also received 'civic duty' allowances, excusing them from online meetings to vote. However, some employees from Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu chose to attend office, preferring not to travel home midweek. Many employees travelled back to their native places to vote, even though polling fell midweek, said Rajeev Krishnan, state convenor of Prathidhwani, an IT employee welfare organisation, who voted in Aruvikkara. He noted that only about 30% of those settled in Thiruvananthapuram from other districts had updated their voter registrations. For some, the connection to their hometown outweighed convenience. I shifted from Kollam to Thiruvananthapuram 13 years ago, but never updated my registration. Having a vote back home still carries value, said Vishnu V S, an employee at Technopark Phase II. Despite modest numbers, voter registrations in the Kazhakoottam constituency, which houses the IT hub, have been rising. On polling day, voters queued early at booths in Kazhakoottam, Karyavattom, Kulathoor, Chanthavila, Kuzhivila, and Poundkadavu. This is my first time voting in a local body election, though I have voted in assembly polls since shifting here 16 years ago, said Rakesh Rajan, after casting his ballot at Government UPS, Kuzhivila. He added that many of his apartment-mates were missing from the rolls. People checked the voters' list only at the last minute. I updated my name online and attended the hearing. The State Election Commission should have campaigned better to ensure inclusion. Others faced similar frustrations. IT professionals Suhail Seth and Nejma said they were excluded from the rolls despite voting in the previous local body election at Kuzhivila.
Low turnout puts parties in a fix in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation
New bridge, old roads on mind, Thiruvananthapuram's tribal belt casts votes
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tribespeople of Thodumala ward in Thiruvananthapuram's Amboori grama panchayat are grateful to the government for the Kumbichal bridge. The newly-opened, but yet-to-be-inaugurated bridge has significantly cut down the travel time of the residents of the ward's 11 tribal settlements and also reduced their dependency on boats their lone mode of transport until now. However, as the capital's tribal belts cast their votes in the local body elections on Tuesday, one question lingered: Will the bridge sway voters' sentiments? Neither do we favour a party, nor do we vote based on it. However, nothing has helped us in recent times like the bridge. Earlier, we depended on boats, whose availability was always uncertain, said 20-year-old Raman, who cast his first vote on Tuesday. We have been seeing remarkable developments in our area, one of which is this bridge. However, I don't know how it will reflect in the results, said the film aspirant. Generally, tribal belts see active participation in elections. I never miss an election, said Sarasu, after casting her vote at the Government Tribal LP School in Puravimala. Initially confused upon seeing three EVMs kept together, she exercised her franchise eventually with the help of a polling officer. Election officer applying ink to tribal voter Sarasu before voting at the Government Tribal LP School, Puravimala on Wednesday. Over 50% polling at the booth was completed by afternoon, thanks to the jeeps arranged by various political parties to ferry voters. Voters who could not spot a jeep walked a few kilometres to their booth and cast their votes. Meanwhile, though people are happy with the bridge, many highlight the poor condition of roads leading to their settlements, which they say makes their journeys dreadful. Some roads were repaired recently. However, there remain places like Thenmala, located deeper in the forest, inaccessible to vehicles. If a person there falls ill, he/she will have to be carried some distance, before getting a vehicle to any hospital, said a resident. Oorumooppan Chandran Kani expressed hope that the government that built the bridge will also build good interior roads. Funds have already been allocated for this, he said. Some tribal residents are upset about losing touch with their culture. Today, our people are not aware of our old rituals or songs. We need a representative who will help us retain our identity and be available, regardless of the voter's political affiliation, said Reena, another resident. Damage caused by wild animals is another concern. We voted early in the morning and returned to work. Look at the destruction caused by the animals, an elderly farmer said as he and his wife tried to salvage what they could after wild elephants and boars damaged their crops in Amboori.
Allen Could Miss Part Of NZs T20Is Against India If Scorchers Reach BBL Finals
Big Bash League: New Zealand opener Finn Allen may miss part of the five-match T20I series in India, scheduled for January 2026, due to his upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) commitments with Perth Scorchers. The T20I series against India, starting on January 21 in Nagpur, and followed by matches in Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram, is regarded as vital preparation for New Zealand ahead of the T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Before this, New Zealand will play three ODIs in India from January 1117 and Allens availability for the T20Is depends on the defending champions Scorchers progress in the BBL. If the Scorchers reach the final on January 25, Allen may not be available until the fourth T20I on January 28. However, if they do not qualify, Allen is expected to be available for the full T20I series. Pending selection, Ill head straight to India once the Big Bash finishes up for us, Allen was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday. Allen is one of five players who have signed casual agreements with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), providing flexibility between national duties and franchise commitments. Playing for New Zealand is still, for me, the pinnacle and the reason why I love playing is to represent my country. But cricket's obviously evolving and changing year on year. New Zealand Cricket's been really good to work with over the last wee while. (I'm) confident about getting back into some Black Caps stuff after the Big Bash and hopefully can continue that, he added. Allen is one of five players who have signed casual agreements with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), providing flexibility between national duties and franchise commitments. Playing for New Zealand is still, for me, the pinnacle and the reason why I love playing is to represent my country. But cricket's obviously evolving and changing year on year. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In that tournament, his knock of 151 runs, including hitting a record 19 sixes for San Francisco Unicorns against Washington Freedom, left everyone jaw-dropped. Allen last featured for New Zealand in March, scoring 27 off 12 balls in an eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Wellington. Article Source: IANS
Row erupts over allegations that Suresh Gopi voted in Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram
CPI, Congress question how the Union Minister voted in Thrissur for Lok Sabha polls and in Thiruvananthapuram for Kerala local body polls
Rahul Mamkootathil granted anticipatory bail in second rape case
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major relief for Rahul Mamkootathil- MLA, the additional district and sessions court has granted him anticipatory bail in a second rape case registered against him on the complainant of a 23-year-old woman. Rahul's counsel had swiftly moved the pre-arrest bail after the High Court granted him protection from arrest in the first rape case till a verdict is given on his anticipatory bail plea, which is scheduled to be heard on December 15. The pre-arrest bail plea was moved on Saturday after the High Court gave Rahul an interim protection from arrest. Rahul's counsel argued that the allegation was politically motivated and there was no mention of the complainant's name, and place and time of occurrence of the alleged crime in the complaint. The complainant did not approach the police directly when she had all the options to do so and instead mailed it to the KPCC chief, which showed that there was something fishy in the move, the counsel argued. His lawyer also highlighted the High Court order and sought a favourable verdict. The prosecution countered this by arguing that the complainant has already given a detailed statement before the police and the allegation was serious in nature. The anticipatory bail plea was moved in the second case after the police appointed a special team to probe the case. The department had appointed AIG G Poonkuzhali to lead the team to investigate the complaint filed by a 23-year-old woman, who is a resident of Bengaluru. Poonkuzhali, who is now attached with the police headquarters, had recorded the statement of the complainant. The complainant had testified that she was raped after being given fake marriage promise. The offence took place in a homestay where she was brutally assaulted.
Rahul Mamkootathil gets anticipatory bail in second sexual assault case
Thiruvananthapuram: A court here on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in a second case of sexual assault against him. The MLAs lawyer, advocate Ajithkumar (Sasthamangalam), confirmed the grant of relief to the legislator by the sessions court here. Mamkootathil had already got an interim protection from arrest from the Kerala 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 .
Will not accept Veer Savarkar Award: Shashi Tharoor
Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi: Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday categorically stated that he would not accept an award named after VD Savarkar, nor attend a related event, even as a senior party colleague wanted the Congress MP to not accept any honour named after the ideologue whom he claimed bowed before the British. Tharoor said that he will 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 .
Will not accept Veer Savarkar Award nor attend the ceremony: Shashi Tharoor
Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi, Dec 10: Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday categorically stated that he would not accept an award named after VD Savarkar, nor attend a related event, even as a senior party colleague wanted the Congress MP to not accept any honour named after the ideologue whom he claimed bowed before the British. Tharoor said that he will NOT accept the Veer Savarkar Award and also wont attend the event where it will be presented in the absence of clarifications about [] The post Will not accept Veer Savarkar Award nor attend the ceremony: Shashi Tharoor appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Blame government, not just IndiGo for aviation crisis: CPI-M's A A Rahim in Rajya Sabha
NEW DELHI: CPI-M leader A A Rahim on Wednesday held the union government responsible for the recent IndiGo crisis, arguing that it was the direct result of unchecked privatisation and deregulation that has turned India's aviation sector into a duopoly. He urged the government not to dilute Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules to accommodate the airline. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Rahim said the crisis was not IndiGo's alone. The sole culprit behind this huge crisis is the Union government. This is the direct outcome of the government's neo-liberal economic policies, privatisation and deregulation of the Indian aviation sector, he said. Pointing to market concentration, Rahim said IndiGo now operates 65.6 per cent of all flights while Air India handles 25.7 per cent. More than 90 per cent of the Indian aviation sector is controlled by just two bosses, IndiGo and Tata, he said. The CPI-M leader dismissed the government's promise that Air India's privatisation would transform the airline. In terms of safety, quality of service, and quality of aircraft, the situation is extremely poor. The government created a misconception that the public sector is useless, while private players are capable of miracles, Rahim said. He accused Air India of exploiting the IndiGo crisis. What is Tata's Air India doing during this so-called IndiGo crisis? It is profiting from human distress, he alleged. Citing his own experience, Rahim said despite a government order last Friday capping airfares at Rs 18,000 for routes above 1,500 km, he found a Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram economy class ticket priced at Rs 64,783 for same-day travel on Wednesday morning. What control does the government have? The government has no control over private carriers, he said. Rahim warned against diluting FDTL rules or granting exceptions to IndiGo. He called for strong regulatory mechanisms to control airfares and ensure passenger safety in a duopolistic market.
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.
Local body polls: Diluted ink, faulty EVMs cause chaos in Sasthamangalam ward
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first phase of local body elections began on Monday amidst crises and uncertainties across the capital district. In a critical incident, election ink applied to voters forefingers at the Sasthamangalam ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation faded within minutes. Sources from Booth 2 of the Raja Kesavadas NSS Higher Secondary School polling station reported that the ink was diluted, causing it to disappear quickly. In the same ward, a female voter was not permitted to vote due to discrepancies in the electoral roll. Vasantha Gokulam, 84, whose name appeared as Vasantha Gokul with incorrect age and photograph, was denied voting at Booth 3. Meanwhile, the voting machine at Booth 2 of Karavaram Panchayat Ward 20 was found to be non-functional. A replacement was provided two hours later, sources said.
Thrivananthapuram records 67.42 per cent polling
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Election to local self-government institutions in the district was largely peaceful. An exception was a clash between CPM and BJP workers at Vanchiyoor. Police intervention helped in preventing untoward incidents at Vanchiyoor where BJP accused CPM of bringing bogus voters. In the morning, polling booths in rural areas were busier than those in urban areas. The districts polling percentage was 67.42 as per the data released by the State Election Commission around 7.50pm. 19.63 lakh of the 29.12 lakh persons in the voters list cast their votes. Of the total 13.53 lakh males, 9.14 lakh voted. Their polling percentage was 67.56. Of the 15.59 lakh females, 10.49 lakh cast their votes, 67.29%. 17 of the 32 transgenders in the list voted. 58.24% polling was recorded in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Among the municipalities, Neyyattinkara recorded the maximum polling, 70.36 and Varkala, the lowest, 66.39%. Among block panchayats, Pernkadavila registered the highest polling percentage, 73.94, and Varkala block the lowest, 68.65%. Governor Rajendra Arlekar cast his vote at Jawahar Nagar School. Shashi Tharoor, MP, cast his vote at Cotton Hill School, Education Minister V Sivankutty at Fort, Food and Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil at NSS College Neeramankara, State Election Commissioner A Shajahan cast his vote at St Marys HSS, Pattom, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar at Jawahar Nagar LPS, Senior Congress leaders A K Antony and M M Hassan at Jagathy UPS, V M Sudheeran at Kunnukuzhy UPS, former KPCC president K Muraleedharan at Jawahar Nagar LPS, BJP leader and former DGP Sreelekha at Cotton Hill School , and K S Sabarinadhan at RKDNSS, Sasthamangalam. turnout in district (%) Poll percentage 67.42 Male 67.56 Female 67.29 Transgenders 53.12 City corporation Polling percentage 58.24 Males 59.73 Females 56.89 Transgenders 66.67 Municipalities Attingal 68.87 Nedumangad 70.28 Varkala 66.39 Neyyattinkara 70.36 Block panchayats Nemom 71.69 Pothencode 69.98 Vellanad 72.45 Nedumangad 69.74 Vamanapuram 70.11 Kilimanoor 71.06 Chirayinkeezhu 69.09 Varkala 68.66 Perumkadavila 73.94 Athiyannoor 73.47 Parassala 71.17
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cantonment police will record the statement of the woman, who had filed a complaint against noted film-maker and two-time MLA P T Kunju Muhammed accusing him of sexual harassment. The police had on Monday registered a case against the director, who was the chairman of the committee to select films for the Malayalam Cinema Today section of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), for sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a woman, which are non-bailable offences. On account of local body polls, the police did not take any steps on the complaint on Tuesday. Police sources said they will contact the complainant and record her statements. The place where the incident occurred- which is a city-based hotel- will be inspected to prepare a mahazar. Following that, the accused will be issued a notice for appearing before the investigators. The complainant is a woman working in the film industry. According to the victim, the incident occurred at a city hotel a month ago during the screening to select films for the upcoming International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). Kunju Muhammed was part of the committee to select films for the Malayalam Cinema Today section of the festival. Both Muhammed and the victim were staying at the hotel. The accused allegedly invited the woman to his room and misbehaved with her. The woman strongly resisted and left the room. Muhammed was elected to the Kerala Assembly twice as a Left-backed independent candidate. P T Kunju Muhammed
UDF upset over Adoor Prakashs open support for Dileep in actor assault case
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Major constituents in the Opposition UDF want the Congress leadership to restrict UDF convener Adoor Prakash, whom they feel, has been getting the front into back-to-back crises. The latest in the series was his open support for actor Dileep in the actor assault case on the poll day morning. Hours after the first phase voting for local body election began in the state, opposition UDF received a body blow with Adoor Prakash voicing his support for actor Dileep in the actor assault case. Speaking to the media in Pathanamthitta after casting his vote, Prakash said Dileep got justice with his acquittal in the case. He added that being a close acquaintance of Dileep, he felt personally happy. He criticised the government for its move to go in for an appeal. As the statement, which is in stark contradiction to the party position, invited heavy backlash from within the Congress and the UDF, the High Command quickly intervened for damage control and directed Prakash to amend his stance. Under fire, the senior leader made a U-turn later in the day, saying his words were misinterpreted and that justice was not served to the survivor. However, by then, the polling-day damage had already been done. A slew of Congress leaders were quick to distance themselves from Prakash, while senior Left leaders condemned the remark. The major goof-up triggered strong resentment from within both the UDF and the Congress. The Congress High Command was visibly upset with the remark and quickly intervened. AICC Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi and KPCC president Sunny Joseph spoke to Adoor Prakash, following which the latter issued a clarification. The party position is very clear. As the KPCC president clearly explained, we do not support the verdict. Senior leaders like Leader of Opposition (V D Satheesan) and Muraleedharan too have clearly stated the party line, Deepa Dasmunshi told TNIE. The poll-day debacle did not go down well with UDF constituents too. What Prakash said was his personal opinion. It has nothing to do with the UDF position, said IUML general secretary P M A Salam. With the PCC chiefs quick intervention, the damage was contained, but the damage was there. Earlier in the case of Rahul Mamkootathil too, he took such a position. Its time the Congress took some clear action in his case, another senior UDF leader told TNIE. Theres strong resentment within the Congress too. Its highly shameful. How can such a statement be made on polling-day day morning? Earlier he supported Rahul Mamkootathil too. Its time the leadership intervened, opined a Political Affairs Committee member. A slew of senior leaders including Sunny Joseph, V D Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and Shashi Tharoor, in addition to Mahila Congress leader Shanimol Osman rejected Prakashs statement.
Davies Kollannur, a beacon of hope for transplant patients, dies at 57
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Davies Kollannur, who courageously altered the course of his life three times, has now sailed beyond the horizon for the final time. Davies who survived three life threatening ordeals- two kidney transplants and a battle with leukemia disease- stood as asymbol of resilience and hopefor thousands oftransplantpatients in Kerala. The man who lived with extraordinary courage, quietly slipped away on Monday night in Thrissur, following a sudden respiratory distress at 57. He left behind a legacy that still refuses to fade. A decorated transplant sportsman, Davies won a silver medal for India at the 2011 Sweden International Transplant Games in Badminton, followed by a bronze in singles and silver in doubles at the Durban International in South Africa in 2013. He was also a two time (2003, 2006) national championin Badminton in National Transplant Games.For thousands of transplant patients inKerala, Davies was not merely a survivor, he was proof that a broken body could still carry an unbroken will. His death arrived abruptly without warning as if knowing that any hint of danger would awaken his instinct to fight. He was active even on his last day. He spoke to me around 8 pm about how his day went, said his kindred soul Jayasree CG. After that the next thing I heard was that he was gone, she said.Davies was working as a transplant coordinator at Daya General Hospital in Thrissur. Born and raised in Villadom, Kolannur Veedu, Thrissur, Davies gow up with the cultural beat of the city, Pooram procession, decorated Elephants and temple- Church grounds. After graduation, he worked as an Assistant Manager in an Italian hotel in Pune for three years. Like many young Keralites, he later moved to Saudi Arabia, workIng as a Chief Cashier in a fashion retail outlet until the first tragedy struck him at the age 30 years,when his both kidneys failed. He was forced to return home and begin dialysis. Hemet Dr TT Paul, nephrologist at West Fort hospital in Thrissur who changed his course of life later. In the late 1990s dialysis facilities were scarce in Thrissur or Ernakulam, forcing patients to travel to Coimbatore or Chennai. Davies underwent nearly 300 dialysis sessions before receiving his transplant under Dr. TT Paul on August 25, 2001. At that time transplant recipients were advised to avoid physical exertion and lead a quiet life. As Davis began gaining weight, Dr. Paul urged him to resume exercise, rekindling his lost love for badminton. Doctor reassured him that he attached kidney will not fall off, if you play badminton. Davies took up the racket and never looked back. After winning gold medals at the National TransplantGames in 2003 and 2006, he stepped onto the international stage and brought home several medals in 2011 and 2013. Impressed by his spirit, Dr. Paul and the hospital authorities invited Davies to join the West Fort hospital as a transplant coordinator in 2003, using Davies and his positive energy to utilise. Life tested him again in 2014, when he was diagnosed with leukemia. He underwent chemotherapy at CMC Vellore and Amritha Hospital in Ernakulam without taking a single day leave, determined not to abandon the kidney patients who relied on him. Later an infection left him unconscious for 15 days in West Fort Hospital. On those nights Dr. Paul, who considered Davies a son, sat by bedside readingO Henry's 'Last Leaf'. He later told Davies's friends that perhaps words might succeedwhere medicine hadfaltered. In the short story, 'Last Leaf', when a young artist falls ill and thinks that she would die when the last leaf falls from anivy vine outside her window. Then to save her and from losing hope, her neighbour, a failed artist painted a realistic leaf on the wall. Though Davies came back to life, cancer and the treatment had caused him dearly as his body rejected the transplanted kidney. On 12 January, 2016 the second time surgery took place for organ transplantation. After his discharge from hospital he rejoined for work and resumed badminton. Davies and Dr. Paul had then started workingat Daya General Hospital. On December 8, 2025 he was active. still speaking to those who needed him. Hours later, he was gone, after a sudden collapse from respiratorydistress.If he had received even the faintest warning, Davies would have survived it, Jayasree said, her voice steady but heavy. He always fought back. On Tuesday, Dr. Paul sat alone in the St. Mary's Church, Ponganamkad waiting as he had done countless times in his homesforDavies with his gentle smile and humour. But for thousands whose lives he touched, Davies hasn't vanished.
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.
Kerala local body polls: On D-Day, party veterans steal the show
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Conventional politicking and canvassing have largely given way to tech-driven exercises, mostly carried out by youths. However, one thing has largely remained unchanged. On the D-day, it is the senior party workers who turn out to be the most indispensable players. With their decades-long experience and grassroots connections, they scan through the voters list, mark each votes polled, and check if any of the names that they deem as sure votes are yet to be polled. If thats the case, those voters are immediately contacted and arrangements are made to ferry them to the polling station, if required. Without veterans, the election day activities can hardly be proceeded with meaningfully. The decades of experience gained from the political crucible empower the oldies to asses which are their votes and which are not. And who they should transport to the polling booth and whose failure to turn up should make them happy. At the Congress booth, near Perumala LPS, that falls in Pullampara panchayat under Vamanapuram assembly constituency, H Shajahan is busy marking in the voters list, using a red pen, the names of those who have exercised their franchise. This is to find out those still to vote. A man in his fifties, Shajahan knows Nagarukuzhy ward like the back of his hand. Then, using another colour, he marks the names that he feels are party votes and are yet to be polled. Its 11am, and before 4pm, we need to ensure that our votes are polled, Shajahan said. The question arises: How is it possible to assess who are party voters and who arent? Its because of the long experience in local politics that we are able to gauge votes. Congress H Shajahan I have around 40 years of experience in politics and around 30 years in poll management. Only seasoned people can do this job, he said. A little further, K Tulaseedharan Nair is busy doing similar work with the voters list, in the CPM dugout. The 63-year-old is the agent of the LDF candidate in the ward and is awaiting a paper thats due from the polling station. Every hour, our agent inside the polling station sends us the serial number of the votes cast. In our dugout, we mark these numbers on the voters list and check how many of our votes have been polled. Veteran party workers know the political inclination of the voters. This is partly done by observation and feedback from people who they meet regularly. In around 90% of the cases, our assumption turns true, he said. Poll managers, as they can easily be called, vouch that the role of the veteran local politician can never be replaced by any technology. Even AI is no match for them in this context. They know each family and individual. In some families, members vote en-bloc for a party, while in some, there is a vote split. So, you cannot guarantee full votes even from a party family. Thats when the personal rapport and networking of the local veterans come into play. They can differentiate between votes in a single family, and generally, it turns to be precise, Shajahan said. Tulaseedharan, however, said around 5% voters never telegraph their political inclination and hence their votes cannot be deemed as for or against a particular party. Similar is the case with new voters, Shajahan said. As the action ends at dusk, the poll managers count their votes and predict the outcome. The prediction is around 90% accurate, Tulaseedharan averred.
As many as 19,63,684 people cast their votes on Tuesday
Kerala votes in first election without V S Achuthanandans presence
ALAPPUZHA: For the first time in the electoral history of the state, a poll is being held without the presence of veteran Communist leader and former chief minister V S Achuthanandan. His wife Vasumathi and son V A Arun Kumar cast their votes at the Buds School polling station in Punnapra South, Alappuzha. In the 2020 local body elections, Achuthanandan could not cast his vote as he was bedridden following a stroke and was under treatment at a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Before heading to the polling booth, Vasumathi, Arun Kumar and his wife paid homage at Achuthanandans memorial at Valiyachudukad, where he was cremated in July this year. Arun Kumar told the media that his mothers health was also not good, but she was determined to cast her vote. So, we arrived at the Velikkakathu house on Monday evening. Many relatives and neighbours visited and exchanged pleasantries with the family, he said. He also recalled that during every election, his father would arrive a day ahead of polling and spend time with relatives and neighbours at the Velikkakathu house. This is the first election without him, Arun Kumar added.
One-way special train to Chandigarh from Thiruvananthapuram
Kamalini, Vaishnavi Included As India Announce 15-member Squad For Sri Lanka T20Is
Sri Lanka T20Is: After a match-winning performance against South Africa in the Women's ODI World Cup final, Shafali Verma rejoins the Indian team for the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka starting on December 21. The 15-person team includes G. Kamalini and Vaishnavi Sharma, both of whom played for India in the Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup. Smriti Mandhana has been named Harmanpreet Kaur's deputy in the leadership department as the latter leads the Women In Blue in the series against Sri Lanka. The Women's Selection Committee has picked Indias squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka Women, BCCI said in a statement. The team also includes other members of the recent World Cup-winning squad, as the selection committee has named Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, and Renuka Singh Thakur. The team's two wicketkeepers are Richa Ghosh and Kamalini. Indias five-match T20I series will begin on 21st December in Visakhapatnam, which will also host the second game on 23rd December. The action will then shift to Thiruvananthapuram for the final stretch, with the third T20I scheduled on 26th December, followed by the fourth on 28th December and the series finale on 30th December. The two venues will share the spotlight as India round off their year with a back-to-back contest in the shortest format. The team also includes other members of the recent World Cup-winning squad, as the selection committee has named Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, and Renuka Singh Thakur. The team's two wicketkeepers are Richa Ghosh and Kamalini. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Indias squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma Article Source: IANS
'Won't accept double standards': Dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi on FEFKA's plan to readmit Dileep
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Malayalam dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi on Tuesday said she would resign from the FEFKA in protest against what she called the organisation's ushed move to take back actor Dileep following his acquittal in the 2017 actor assault case. Bhagyalakshmi, who has previously held several positions in the Film Employees Federation of Kerala, told reporters that she could not accept double standards in the case and would stand firmly with the survivor. She said the trial court's verdict was not final until upheld by higher courts, and that FEFKA and other film bodies should have waited for the legal process to conclude. On Monday, FEFKA general secretary B Unnikrishnan said Dileep would be reinstated once he submitted a request. We had expelled him within two hours of him being named an accused, and we will reverse the action now that he has been acquitted, he said. Expressing happiness over the verdict, Kerala Film Producers' Association (KFPA) president B Rakesh also said the body would readmit Dileep if it received a formal request. The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) too backed the court's decision, saying in a Facebook post that he law will take its own course. Meanwhile, screenwriter and actor-director Renji Panicker welcomed the judgment, saying he believed he real guilty persons had been punished. He said the court had found no evidence of conspiracy involving Dileep. Unless the higher courts reverse the order, I can only go by the trial court's decision, he added. Responding to criticism from the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), which said the survivor had not received full justice, Panicker said, Those who expected a different verdict will naturally be upset. I stand by the court's verdict and believe the guilty have been given the right punishment. A Kerala court on Monday acquitted Malayalam cinema star Dileep in the sensational 2017 actress sexual assault case, in which six persons, including the main accused, charged with committing the crime, were pronounced guilty. In a case that made national headlines while sending shockwaves over the top actor's alleged involvement in the matter, three others, including Dileep's close friend Sarath, were also acquitted. Dileep, whose real name is P Gopalakrishnan, claimed there was a eal conspiracy by some police officials and a section of the media to implicate him in the case earlier with an eye on destroying his career.
'Won't adopt double standards': Dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi on FEFKA's plan to readmit Dileep
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Malayalam dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi on Tuesday said she would resign from the FEFKA in protest against what she called the organisation's ushed move to take back actor Dileep following his acquittal in the 2017 actor assault case. Bhagyalakshmi, who has previously held several positions in the Film Employees Federation of Kerala, told reporters that she could not adopt double standards on the case and would stand firmly with the survivor. She said the trial court's verdict was not final until upheld by higher courts, and that FEFKA and other film bodies should have waited for the legal process to conclude. On Monday, FEFKA general secretary B Unnikrishnan said Dileep would be reinstated once he submitted a request. We had expelled him within two hours of him being named an accused, and we will reverse the action now that he has been acquitted, he said. Expressing happiness over the verdict, Kerala Film Producers' Association (KFPA) president B Rakesh also said the body would readmit Dileep if it received a formal request. The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) too backed the court's decision, saying in a Facebook post that he law will take its own course. Meanwhile, screenwriter and actor-director Renji Panicker welcomed the judgment, saying he believed he real guilty persons had been punished. He said the court had found no evidence of conspiracy involving Dileep. Unless the higher courts reverse the order, I can only go by the trial court's decision, he added. Responding to criticism from the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), which said the survivor had not received full justice, Panicker said, Those who expected a different verdict will naturally be upset. I stand by the court's verdict and believe the guilty have been given the right punishment. A Kerala court on Monday acquitted Malayalam cinema star Dileep in the sensational 2017 actress sexual assault case, in which six persons, including the main accused, charged with committing the crime, were pronounced guilty. In a case that made national headlines while sending shockwaves over the top actor's alleged involvement in the matter, three others, including Dileep's close friend Sarath, were also acquitted. Dileep, whose real name is P Gopalakrishnan, claimed there was a eal conspiracy by some police officials and a section of the media to implicate him in the case earlier with an eye on destroying his career.
Inippu in Thiruvananthapuram serves sweets and seasonality
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers claims airline's operations are now stable
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers stated in a video message that the airlines operations are now stable following a wave of disruptions. The airline has faced over 400 cancellations nationwide, affecting major airports including Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai, though airport authorities confirmed that passengers are being assisted and there are no terminal or airside issues.
Silent campaigning unfolded across three Municipal Corporations, 39 municipalities, seven district panchayats, 75 block panchayats, and 471 grama panchayats spread over Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam districts.
Congress,CPM allying with Jamaat, says Rajeev
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM and Congress are allying with Jamaat-e-Islami, which works towards establishing an Islamic state, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Monday. He said the outfit had extended political support to both the fronts as revealed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a meet the press. He accused the LDF and UDF of locking on to political goals without considering the cons of its maneuvers and urged the public to vote for NDA to put an end to this. He also alleged that the UPA government did nothing for the state when there were eight union ministers from Kerala and the Narendra Modi had provided more assistance than the Congress-led governments. He also accused the fronts of doing nothing on gold heist from Sabarimala temple and added that they have turned the devaswom board into a centre for middlemen. Lack of development, corruption, criminal negligence, and incompetence are what the alternating governments have given the people of Kerala over the years. Despite the people giving them opportunities many times, they gave nothing back to the people. If anyone has done anything to protect the interests of the people of this land, it is solely the Narendra Modi government, he added.
SBI Thiruvanthapuram circle celebrates silver jubilee
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Highlighting the enduring role of the State Bank of India in Keralas socioeconomic development, SBI chairman C S Shetty commented that the bank remains committed to a future roadmap focusing on the superior customer-centric banking experience. He was inaugurating the silver jubilee celebrations of the banks Thiruvananthapuram Circle in Ernakulam on Monday. The chairman also launched the upcoming CSR initiatives of the bank, which will have multiple institutions as its key beneficiaries, including Kottayam Medical College, selected primary health centres, anganwadis, primary schools, orphanages, special schools, old age homes, and womens shelter homes. Special financial assistance schemes for girl students under the Beti Bachao scheme will also be extended as part of this. SBI will also collaborate with the Viswasanthi Development Foundation to provide safe drinking water to three wards in Kuttanad, a region frequently affected by water-related challenges. The silver jubilee programme was also attended by Thiruvananthapuram Circle CGM K V Bangarraju and other bank officials.
LSG dept steps in to solve Varkala project row
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the tussle between Varkala municipality and the tourism department over the implementation of the controversial Varkala Dakshin Kashi project launched at the ancient Janardhana Swamy Temple under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme the local self-government principal director on Monday convened a meeting with all stakeholders to resolve the issue. Principal director Geromic George directed the municipality secretary to grant the required approvals after legally vetting all documents. The Varkala municipality had issued multiple stop memos to the tourism department, the most recent one on December 2, asking that all construction activities be halted immediately. However, the Urulungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) continued construction and excavation on the Varkala cliff without securing mandatory permissions. The Rs 25 crore Centre-funded project, aimed at improving basic facilities and enhancing the pilgrim experience, was launched around three months ago without obtaining required approvals from the Varkala municipality, the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA), the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), and the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The municipality issued its first notice on September 25. The meeting, convened on the request of the tourism department, was attended by representatives of the District Disaster Management Authority, the tourism department, KCZMA, and Varkala municipality. Geromic said the municipal secretary has been instructed to legally examine and approve the project. The tourism department will submit the project drawings for approval on December 11. Varkala municipal secretary G Mithran told TNIE that the tourism authorities informed the meeting that the applications for approval from the municipality will be uploaded on Thursday. After processing, we will forward the application to KCZMA. We are also awaiting a report from the DDMA, G Mithran said. He added that the project currently lacks approval from the Pollution Control Board (PCB). Construction activities are also prohibited within 100 metres of the cliff face. We must verify whether this is being followed. KCZMAs approval is required in this regard as well, he added. S J Sajeev, president of the Environment Protection and Research Council, who filed the complaint against the alleged illegal construction by the Tourism Department, said the Archaeological Survey of India has a major role in conserving the Varkala cliff. He said the revenue department should demarcate the entire cliff to bring clarity and help prevent illegal constructions.
Ink issues and faulty EVMs cause chaos at start of local body elections in Thiruvanthapuram
THIRUVANTHAPURAM: The first phase of local body elections began on Monday amidst crises and uncertainties across the capital district. In a critical incident, election ink applied to voters forefingers at the Sasthamangalam ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation faded within minutes. Sources from Booth 2 of the Raja Kesavadas NSS Higher Secondary School polling station reported that the ink was diluted, causing it to disappear quickly. In the same ward, a female voter was not permitted to vote due to discrepancies in the electoral roll. Vasantha Gokulam (84), whose name appeared as Vasantha Gokul with incorrect age and photograph, was denied voting at Booth 3. This appears to be a deliberately created issue, as similar problems occurred in the last local body elections. No major parties checked this while distributing the election slip, which raises doubts, said Resmi TS, the AAP candidate for the ward. Discussions to allow her vote are currently ongoing. Meanwhile, the voting machine at Booth 2 of Karavaram Panchayat Ward 20 was found to be non-functional. At least 50 voters left after discovering the EVM was damaged, sources said, adding that polling officials had assured a replacement would be provided soon. Voting for the first phase in seven districts of the state began at 7 am, with electors choosing representatives for three-tier panchayats in rural areas and municipalities and corporations in urban areas. Voters queued at polling stations as early as 6.30 am. Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi and the states Leader of the Opposition, VD Satheesan, were among the prominent voters who cast their ballots in the first hour. The first phase covers Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam districts. A total of 11,167 wards across 595 local bodies are going to polls, including 8,310 wards in 471 grama panchayats, 1,090 wards in 75 block panchayats, 164 divisions in seven district panchayats, 1,317 wards in 39 municipalities, and 232 wards in three corporations. As many as 1.32 crore voters, including 62.50 lakh men, 70.32 lakh women, and 126 transgender persons, are listed to vote in this phase. A total of 36,629 candidates are contesting in the seven districts. Voting is taking place across 15,422 polling stations, 480 of which have been designated as sensitive.
Kerala local body polls: Voting under way for first phase in seven districts
Voters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam will cast their ballots today
CET researchers develop tech for safe micro-grids
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what could benefit critical sectors and even remote tribal hamlets that rely on localised renewable energy-based power sources, a team of researchers from College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET) have invented a technology to increase the safety and reliability of electrical micro-grids. Micro-grids are mini versions of the larger power grids that can supply electricity to a specific area, such as a neighbourhood, campus, or even a large building through sources such as solar energy. The technology that accurately detects islanding conditions and faults in grid-connected micro-grids, has won CET a patent from the Government of India. Islanding occurs when a part of the grid stays energised by local sources such as solar power during an outage. It is highly dangerous as it creates severe safety risks such as electrocution, damage to equipment and destablisation of the grid. Even under challenging scenarios such as fluctuations in solar power generation or unstable variations in micro-grid loads, the universal adaptive relay developed by us demonstrated precise and dependable performance, said lead researcher Prof Rajeev T of the Department of Electrical Engineering, CET. The team comprised former research scholar Divya S Nair and former MTech student Sindhura Miraj. The research was conducted as part of a project funded by NaMPET, with technical collaboration from Dr Vinod V, Associate Professor ay GEC Barton Hill and C-DAC scientist Aby Joseph. The patented technology enables the universal microcontroller-based relay with the training knowledge to precisely detect and differentiate between islanding, non-islanding, and fault conditions. The relaying technique has two operational levels: the phase deviation control technique that performs the first level, and the hybrid detection technique that performs the second. The invention adopts a unique hybrid detection approach capable of distinguishing between islanding and non-islanding scenarios. This approach effectively pinpoints faults in grid-connected AC micro-grids. The system can also avoid nuisance tripping and unintentional islanding without compromising operational speed., Rajeev explained. Micro-grids are of immense benefit to far flung areas such as tribal settlements where drawing conventional power lines poses a lot of challenges, said R Harikumar, Dir Energy Management Centre (EMC)-Kerala under the state power department. The invention, he noted, would help in improving safety and efficiency of such grids. Meanwhile, the EMC is in discussions on developing urban micro grids in the state that would power critical emergency response and command centres, especially during times of natural disasters. Holding promise CET researchers universal microcontroller-based relay technology has won a patent Invention effectively pinpoints faults in grid-connected AC micro-grids Hybrid detection approach distinguishes hazardous and non hazardous situations Technology avoids nuisance tripping and thereby enhances operational speed
Empowerment program: Sports department to train women and girls in martial arts
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Marking an ambitious move to foster womens safety and empowerment, the department of sports and youth affairs is all set to roll out a self-defence and empowerment training programme for girls and women, by training them in martial arts including boxing, karate, kalarippayattu and taekwondo. Officials confirmed that the programme will be inaugurated this month, and the initial procedures will begin soon. The training will be provided in a full-fledged manner to school students from the next academic year, senior officials remarked. Planning to roll out in multiple phases, the training will initially be provided to the police officers who are trainers of Student Police Cadets (SPC), who will, in turn, train their cadets. Special training will also be given to around 2,000 physical education teachers of schools. These teachers will later look after the training for other students in schools, further plans for which will be decided by the education department later. The department is also planning to execute this as a continuous programme to provide free training for all women without age bar, with Jimmy George Indoor Stadium as its key centre. A detailed handbook on how to provide training has already been prepared by the sports department with the help of experts from the State Council for Educational Research and Training. More modules for this programme will be released in the coming years. More than physical training, the course will comprise anti-panic training, measures to increase assertiveness and situational awareness. Our aim is to have at least two periods weekly in the school dedicated to this in all government and aided schools, which will be mandatory for all girls. We will also ask them to submit videos of students engaging in this mass activity to monitor the quality of the programme, said a higher official from the sports department. He added that all students will be trained in all four martial arts, along with fitness training.
Bun maska-chai: The viral combo sweeping Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Yummy butter spread between a tasty bun, dipped in hot tea this simple combination has endeared itself to Keralites. Originally from the Irani cafes of Mumbai, the dish is trending all over Kerala, with food vloggers making it the talk of the town. And the origin of this sudden craze for bun maska in the state could be traced to a couple from Kochi The Chai Couple and what they call their single-minded decision. When Saran Dileep and Sreelekshmi T S decided to return from abroad and choose and pursue a passion in Kochi, they were unsure about where to start. An avid tea lover, Sreelekshmi felt there should be a place that answers an everyday question: Where can we get good chai? That thought grew: What if we add some snacks, but not the usual oily ones? Overnight, the duo bought some charts, took a table from their house and borrowed their grandmothers flask. The next morning, they were ready in front of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor, armed with a limited number of buns and some tea. The Chai Couple Cafe, and the viral bun maska-chai combo, took off. Instead of beginning a fully-fledged shop, we thought of experimenting, to see if people like what we offer, said Saran. Maintaining that the dish is their version of bun maska, he said never in their dreams did the two think it would become a statewide trend. Terming it a result of both word of mouth promotion and support of food vloggers, Saran commented they are happy to see the dish going viral. Our confidence is in our customers, said Sreelekshmi, adding that many, including their first-ever tea customer, return to their food spot. One of our customers is even developing our new token system, she said, adding that they have always been keen on not compromising on quality. Food vloggers across the state say the bun maska-tea combo has gone viral. Niyadh Basheer (@foodencyclopediatrivandrum) said the key complaint he hears from foodies is the dish being out of stock. There are shops open till 2am, selling bun maska and tea in Thiruvananthapuram. Techies have taken over spaces in the Technopark side, where they sell bun maska, he said, adding that the capital citys thattukada culture has boosted peoples love for the dish. Devayani S Thilakan (@toastory) says the affordable nature of the dish has made it attractive for college students in Kozhikode. We commonly see students who are visiting the beach, gathering at shops selling the items, she said.
First phase of Kerala local body polls on Tuesday; voting to begin at 7 a.m.
Votes will be polled from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Phase-I of the local body elections covering wards in 595 local bodies across Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam districts.
Complainant in second rape case against Rahul Mamkootathil gives statement to police
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The complainant in the second rape case against MLA Rahul Mamkootathil has given her statement to the police. The statement was recorded by a team led by AIG G Poonkuzhali, who monitors the investigation. The 23-year-old in her statement said that Rahul established a relationship with her with the promise of marriage. She was asked to come to a homestay to discuss future plans. She was brutally raped at the homestay despite her protests, she reportedly told the cops.He also allegedly issued threats whenever she refused to answer his phone calls. Rahul also allegedly insisted that the woman get pregnant, but later backed off from the relationship citing his political ambitions. The police produced the victim's statement and other documents before the principal district and sessions court, which is considering Rahul's anticipatory bail plea. Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Warrier has been granted immunity from arrest by the principal district and sessions court. He was booked for allegedly disclosing the identity of the woman, who had filed a rape complaint against Rahul Makootathil. Activist Rahul Easwar, another accused in the case, is still in judicial custody after the court denied him bail.
'Not the final verdict': Retd DGP B Sandhya on actor assault case verdict
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Responding to the sessions court verdict in the actress assault case, acquitting actor Dileep of conspiracy charges, former DGP B Sandhya said that this is not the final verdict in the case. Conspiracy is always a challenge to prove in court, and this is not the final verdict. We have higher courts too, and let us see how things unfold, she said while addressing the media here. Sandhya led the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that investigated the case. Hinting that the survivor will approach the higher courts, the IPS officer also said that she hopes the investigation team and the prosecution will fight for justice. We will be there with the victim, both the prosecution and the probe team, and we will go forward, she said. Appreciating the probe team for their efforts, Sandhya also noted that the issue has led to several positive changes in the Malayalam film industry. On the other hand, Cultural Minister Saji Cherian said that the government will look into the court's observations in detail, check for any shortcomings in the evidence, and act accordingly. We will have to take a collective decision, and it will be taken likewise, the minister responded. Reiterating that the government is always with the survivor, irrespective of whoever is on the other side, the minister said that further comments will be made after studying the court verdict.
