Twenty20 is contesting the upcoming local polls against the Left and Right Front, a collective of 25 parties similar to the “Kuruva” robber gangs, alleged party chairman Sabu M. Jacob.
Addressing a press conference at his party headquarters in Kizhakkambalam, Mr. Jacob said the national parties, including the Congress and the CPI(M), were fully invested in defying the decade-old twenties.
When Congress MP Benny Behanan was attacked, it was CPI(M) MLA PV Sreenijin who responded. According to him, the only agenda of these parties was to usurp public tax money through officials and contractors.
Mr. Behanan had recently alleged that Kizhakkambalam panchayat does not have savings of ₹32 crore as claimed by Twenty20, which governs the panchayat, and that it has failed to utilize the plan fund. Mr Jacob denied the allegations by releasing audit reports from 2022.
The audit reports revealed that apart from a loss of ₹18,600 crore by the panchayat secretary in tax collection during 2025, there was no loss in utilization of funds – including plan funds, own funds, central funds and combined funds – between 2022 and 2025, he claimed. Mr. Jacob also released proof of savings of ₹32 crore in various bank accounts after 10 years of ruling the panchayat by Twenty20. During the last five years, annual schemes worth ₹212 crore have been implemented in the panchayat.
This time the party is contesting in Kochi Corporation and Maradu, Thripunithura and Thrikkakara municipalities as well as local bodies from Pathanapuram in Kollam district to Muthalamada in Palakkad. A total of 880 party candidates are in the fray, though many candidates backed out following alleged threats from CPI(M) and Congress leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Jacob said.
Published – 06 Dec 2025 20:01 IST
