Congress leaders Joseph Vazhackan and Uma Thomas, MLA, announce the party’s candidates for the elections to the Thrikkakara municipality on November 16, 2025.
| Photo Credit: H. VIBHU
The Congress on Sunday (November 16, 2025) announced 37 candidates for the Thrikkakara municipality, where the United Democratic Front (UDF) is striving hard to retain power after managing to complete the previous term despite a series of political turbulences and controversies. The candidates include two District Congress Committee (DCC) secretaries, a block president, and ‘a Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] rebel’.
The party has announced candidates in all but two of the 39 wards it is contesting while nine seats have been left to its key ally Indian Union Muslim League.
DCC secretaries Wahida Shereef and Xavier Thayankeri have been fielded from wards 1 and 43 respectively while former municipal chairperson Shaji Vazhakkala has been picked for ward 42. Four Congress mandalam presidents including former municipal chairperson Ajitha Thankappan have found a place in the list, though outgoing chairperson Radhamani Pillai has been left out. The list features 17 women.
Ward No. 15, covering the Palachuvadu area, sprang a surprise as incumbent councillor Noushad Pallachi opted out of the race this time, paving the way for the candidature of Sarath Kumar M.S., a youth who was expelled from the CPI(M) on Thursday (November 13, 2025). A two-time councillor, Mr. Pallachi had been considered a frontrunner for the chairperson’s post if the UDF won another term in the municipality.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Sarath Kumar said he was expelled from the CPI(M)’s Palachuvadu branch committee and claimed the party acted against him after he revolted against the local leadership for fielding a weak candidate in a ward where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been emerging as a key player. According to sources, the Congress brought him in even as he was preparing to contest as an independent.
The CPI(M) has fielded Mumthas Shereef, while M.C. Jayakumar is seeking a mandate on the BJP ticket once again. Jayakumar had polled 458 votes in the 2020 polls, trailing CPI(M)’s C.P. Sajal by just seven votes. Mr. Pallachi had won by polling 490 votes.
The Congress has yet to finalise candidates in ward 10 covering Edachira and ward 31 (Kuzhikkattumoola). Party leadership said the nominees will be finalised in a day or two. The IUML has also not announced the candidates in the nine wards allotted to it.
The LDF has, meanwhile, announced candidates in 43 wards. The CPI(M) is contesting in 38 wards and CPI in seven. One seat each has been allotted to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Congress (S), and the RJD. Candidates for Marottichuvadu, Thalakkottumoola, Kakkanad, Chittethukara and Infopark wards are yet to be finalised.
The BJP has declared candidates in 34 wards, leaving the decision in nine wards pending. Its ally Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) will be fielding candidates in the remaining five wards.
Published – November 16, 2025 08:43 pm IST
