Power play intensifies in Keralam’s Pala municipality ahead of chairperson election

A month after United Democratic Front (UDF)-backed chairperson Diya Pulikkakandam was ousted, the battle for the top post in Pala municipality has entered its final lap, with the election of her successor scheduled for Wednesday (August 19, 2026).

While the backing from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has put Congress rebel and acting chairperson Maya Rahul in a strong position, a fresh twist has added uncertainty to the numbers game.

The Save Congress Forum, comprising former Congress councillors expelled from the party for defying its whip, has already decided to field Ms. Rahul as its candidate. The UDF, on the other hand, is expected to announce its candidate on Tuesday (August 18).

With just a day to go for the election, however, political manoeuvring continues, with one of the rebel councillors, Lissykutty Mathew, returning to the Congress fold. While Ms. Mathew has said she cannot vote for a candidate backed by the LDF, sources said her return to the Congress followed differences with the other rebel councillors over the sharing of the chairperson’s post. She had sought the first term, while the other rebels favoured Ms. Rahul.

“Ms. Mathew insisted on getting the chairperson post in the first term. However, the majority of members are of the view that the understanding that was reached when we were with the UDF should be followed here as well. As per this, Ms. Rahul should be getting the next term,” said Tony Thaiparambil, a member of the Save Congress Forum.

More uncertainty

Although the Save Congress Forum and the LDF have reached an understanding over the chairperson’s post, uncertainty persists over the vice-chairperson’s position, which will fall vacant if Ms. Rahul gets elected. Differences have emerged among the Save Congress Forum members over who should get the post, while reports that the LDF may stake a claim have further complicated the scenario.

Though LDF parliamentary party leader Biju Paloopadavan of the Kerala Congress (M) has said he is not interested in the post, pressure is mounting on the KC(M) from its councillors to stake a claim. “The LDF parliamentary party will take an appropriate decision at an appropriate time,” he said.

The KC(M) had earlier said it would not stake a claim to any post and would extend outside support to the rebel councillors. The change in its stance has added to the confusion within the Save Congress Forum, particularly as its members Biju Mathews and Tony Thaiparambil were planning to share the vice-chairperson’s post. Their efforts to reach an understanding with the LDF on the post before Wednesday’s chairperson election have also failed to yield results.

In the 26-member council, the LDF has 12 members, including 10 from the Kerala Congress (M) and two from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M]. With the four members of the Save Congress Forum, the bloc’s strength would rise to 16.

The UDF currently has 10 members, comprising two from the Congress, including Ms. Mathew; three from the Kerala Congress (Joseph); one from the Kerala Democratic Party (KDP) led by Mani C. Kappen; and three members of the Independent Collective led by the Pulikkakandam family.