After finalizing the seat-sharing plan for Kottayam panchayat district after intense negotiations, the United Democratic Front is now facing a political conundrum of its own making with the decision to allot the IUML seat after 25 long years.
For IUML, this step marks a significant breakthrough. Since its defeat in Erumeli division in 2000, the Congress has kept the Kottayam district panchayat firmly out of bounds for its ally, rejecting repeated demands in every election cycle. This time, however, the League stood its ground in days of tough negotiations led by senior Congress leaders Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and KC Joseph. And late on Friday night, Congress relented and granted a single seat with the proviso that the division to be allocated would be announced within 48 hours.
But the compromise has a twist. The Congress wants the League to field its candidate as an independent UDF without using the IUML’s own election symbol, the ladder. Party sources say the Congress fears that if the IUML candidate contests under the party symbol, it could drive away both Christian and Hindu voters across Central Travancore. “It is a risk the coalition cannot afford after its previous defeat in the district panchayat,” a senior UDF leader pointed out.
Meanwhile, IUML is playing the long game. The IUML leader accepted the formula of an independent candidate, noting that it still allows the party to “count the seat in future negotiations” and build leverage for the coming election cycles.
The IUML initially pushed for either Mundakkayam or Erumely division, but the Congress made it clear that both were off limits. The most likely compromise now is the Thalanad division – a move partly aimed at easing pressure from the Kerala Congress, which is demanding eight seats, including Thalanad.
Despite the tension, IUML exudes confidence and allays concerns about the impact on society. “There was no Muslim candidate last time, but the UDF suffered one of its worst defeats here,” the IUML leader pointed out.
If the IUML’s re-entry into the district panchayat created discomfort, the UDF’s next decision created even more heat. The move to allocate seats to the Welfare Party of India (two in Erattupetta municipality and one in Kanjirapally) caused internal dissent.
Critics in Congress warn that the Welfare Party’s openness could spark resistance across neighboring regions. The unrest also spread to the public when a local Congress leader publicly opposed the handing over of the Kanjirapally seat.
Published – 15 Nov 2025 19:57 IST
