If there is one thing that gives every election in Kottayam its unmistakable flavour, it is the never-ending duel between rival Kerala Congress factions.
Born as a splinter of the Congress, the party has survived splits, mergers, ideological zigzags, and at least two rounds of generational churn. Yet, its grip over the Catholic heartland of Central Travancore continues almost undisturbed, a reality reflected in the seats its factions command in every election.
As Kottayam enters the final phase of campaigning for the local body polls, the spotlight once again swings to the classic showdown between the two rival Kerala Congress factions. For, it is a battle fought not just for seats, but for legacy, relevance, and political survival itself.
The Joseph faction, aligned with the Congress-led United Democratic Front, is contesting in 7 of the 23 district panchayat divisions. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front has gone a step further, giving the KC(M) under Jose K. Mani nine divisions, setting up direct Joseph-Mani face-off in five of them.
For the LDF, which already rules 50 of the district’s 71 grama panchayats, retaining Kottayam is crucial to proving that even a traditionally anti-Left turf can be turned into a dependable red fortress. Their strategy is surgical, which involves generous seat sharing with the KC(M), deeper pushes into old UDF pockets, and to lock in an early edge ahead of the Assembly race.
For the UDF, however, Kottayam is the heart of its comeback strategy. The coalition began preparing early, starting with appointing a Catholic leader to head the Congress in Kerala and carefully resolving friction with allies such as the KC and the Indian Union Muslim League. Whether this early homework will translate into electoral gains now remains the question of the season.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance, led by the BJP, is quietly attempting something ambitious by punching its way deeper into Catholic-dominated zones, overcoming controversies surrounding attacks on Christians in North India. The strategy is evident in the slate of young Catholic candidates, the aggressive outreach across plantation belts, and the added momentum from its merger with P.C. George’s Janapaksham ahead of the last parliamentary elections.
Of the 71 grama panchayats in the district, the LDF holds power in 50, while the UDF governs 18, and the NDA controls three. Among the six municipalities, four are with the UDF and two with the LDF. In the 11 block panchayats, the LDF commands 10, leaving just one with the UDF. The district panchayat too remains firmly under the Left combine.
Published – December 04, 2025 09:32 am IST
