Farmers’ groups, the Catholic Church and local MLAs from Kerala are all demanding a higher reach district
D. Babu Paul, the first District Collector of Idukki, unfurls the national flag announcing the creation of the district on January 26, 1972. | Photo Credit: File Photo Special Arrangements
As discussions gather momentum to carve out Thodupuzha to form the proposed Muvattupuzha district, local stakeholders including farmers’ groups, Udumbanchola MLA Senapathi Venu and the Idukki Diocese under the Syro-Malabar Church are in favor of the move and are demanding a high extent area exclusively.
The proposal gained momentum recently when Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan, speaking at an event in Muvattupuzha, urged the state government to consider creating a new district comprising parts of Ernakulam, Idukki and Kottayam. In response, Chief Minister VD Satheesan said the demand required consideration and urged the government to appoint a delimitation commission.
The division was also supported by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Idukki, which has a significant presence in the mountain range and regularly intervenes in regional land disputes.
Fr. Jins Karakkatt, director of the Idukki Diocese Media Commission, said that setting aside a specialized district with high reach would accelerate regional development.
“The climate, geographical issues and agricultural practices in Thodupuzha are quite different from the high-reach areas. When soil-related problems occur, they rarely affect Thodupuzha,” Fr. said Karakkat.
He added that most of the political leaders these days are from the lower areas and lack a fine understanding of the issues of higher reach. “Creating a high-impact district will help nurture political leadership within the region itself,” he said.
In 2023, Idukki regained its status as Kerala’s largest district after the state government transferred 12,718.5 hectares from Kuttampuzha panchayat in Ernakulam district to Edamalakkudy panchayat in Devikulam taluk. The transfer expanded the total area of Idukki from 4,48,504.64 hectares to 4,61,223.15 hectares.
Demographically, Devikulam, Udumbanchola and Peerumade have a large population of Tamil plantation workers, while the Idukki constituency serves as a center for settler farmers. Because of the rugged terrain and remote geography, travel between these constituencies often takes five to six hours.
Mr. Venu said that a dedicated mountain area is necessary to ensure development in the entire region. “Thodupuzha town should be separated from Idukki to create an exclusive high reach area,” the MLA said.
Rasak Chooravelil, chairman of the Idukki Land Freedom Movement (ILFM), also supported the restructuring: “Thodupuzha has a distinct culture and lifestyle that is different from the main identity of the high mountains.”
However, the proposal met stiff opposition from both the Kerala Congress (KC) and the Kerala Congress (M) (KC(M)). Talking to reporters in Thodupuzha, KC chairman PJ Joseph claimed that the separation of Thodupuzha would mean “ripping out the very heart and soul of Idukki district”.
Meanwhile, KC(M) Chairman Jose K. Mani questioned the need for a separate Muvattupuzha constituency and reiterated that his party was also against the separation of Thodupuzha from Idukki. Political observers attribute the resistance of both KC and KC(M) to the fear of losing their electoral stronghold in the region.
Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose took a measured stance on the issue. “While the Muvattupuzha district proposal is being discussed, I support the sentiments of the people of Thodupuzha. The government has already announced plans for a delimitation commission to study the reorganization of districts and we should wait for its report,” Kuriakose said.
Idukki district was formally established on 26 January 1972.
Published – 03 Sep 2026 07:30 IST