When the verdict in Chellanam, a coastal panchayat ravaged by sea incursion in Ernakulam district, was declared in the last local body elections, it promised a new dawn in people’s democracy.
Eight Independent candidates who contested under the collective banner of Chellanam Twenty20 on the plank of corruption-free governance emerged victorious, making them the second-largest bloc in the 21-member panchayat. Five years later, as the local body elections approach again, that dream lies in tatters.
Merging with Twenty20
Two of its members, K.L. Joseph and Mary Simla, defected to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and ended their terms as president and vice-president respectively. The rest of the collective disintegrated, losing its identity and eventually merging with the Kizhakkambalam-based Twenty20 backed by the Kitex Group.
Things looked promising at the start when the collective, formed originally as a WhatsApp group to coordinate volunteer work during the COVID-19 pandemic, stayed true to its stated philosophy and refrained from the election for chairperson, refusing to align with either of the political fronts. As the four members of the United Democratic Front (UDF) also abstained, K.D. Prasad and V.A. Margaret of the LDF were elected president and vice-president respectively.
No-confidence motion
Later, a case challenging the victory of a UDF candidate was adjudged in favour of Chellanam Twenty20’s Mary Simla. This raised the outfit’s tally to nine, equal to that of the LDF, while the UDF was further reduced to three. Subsequently, Chellanam Twenty20 and the UDF joined hands to dislodge Mr. Prasad and Ms. Margaret through a no-confidence motion. Mr. Joseph and UDF’s Anila Sebastine were sworn in as their replacements.
Soon after, the LDF successfully moved a no-confidence motion against Mr. Joseph. This brought back Mr. Prasad back as chairperson. Six months later, even as the UDF prepared to move another no-confidence motion against Mr. Prasad with Chellanam Twenty20’s support, the LDF sprang a surprise by wooing Mr. Joseph and Ms. Simla into its fold and making them president and vice-president.
Abandoning the political morality and ethics they had professed during the election, the outfit was left faceless and eventually subsumed into the Kizhakkambalam-based Twenty20. While Twenty20 supremo Sabu M. Jacob wants his outfit to contest all 22 wards — one ward added following delimitation — that prospect appears unlikely.
Published – November 16, 2025 10:35 am IST
