Elappulla panchayat president Revathy Babu is seeking re-election from ward 6.
The proposed brewery and the fierce political divide it has created has become the focus of the ongoing local election campaign in Elappully grama panchayat. With most parties united in opposition and only the CPI(M) standing in support, the brewery project set off a legal battle that now dominates the campaign narrative in the panchayat.
Elapully Poratta Janakeeya Samiti (EPJS), a collective of members from various socio-political groups opposed to the brewery, initially planned to field a consensus independent candidate against the CPI(M) in Chuttippara (Ward 7), where Oasis Commercial Pvt. Ltd. intends to build a distillery. But the EPJS strategy of pitting its chief convener S. Kesavadas against the CPI(M) fell apart when the BJP and the Congress nominated their own candidates. Though the BJP and the Congress had agreed to support him, both changed their stance after a media report suggested an unholy BJP-Congress alliance in the assembly.
“Congress and BJP are now asserting their independence. We tried to field a common candidate against the social menace of the brewery. For political parties, narrow political interests prevailed over public sentiment. We decided not to contest when key political groups showed no interest in defeating a common opponent,” said George Sebastian, chief coordinator of EPJS.
C. Sinu of the BJP and S. Sunil Kumar of the Congress will take on C. Murali Kumar of the CPI(M) in a triangular contest in Chuttippara, now known as Brewery ward. The decision of the BJP and the Congress to contest separately in this CPI(M) stronghold benefited the CPI(M).
Although the CPI(M) ruled Elapulla for several terms, the Congress wrested power in the panchayat in 2020 by winning nine seats against the CPI(M)’s eight and the BJP’s five. This time the panchayat has 23 wards.
However, the Congress finds itself in a bind as a rebel candidate challenges its outgoing panchayat president Revathy Babu in Para (Ward 6). The rebel, Appukuttan K., who is fighting for the electric bulb symbol, has earlier faced charges of aiding the brewing lobby.
Both the Congress and the BJP support the EPJS movement against the brewery. Local leaders of both parties have joined EPJS’ legal battle in the High Court against Oasis Commercial. Although the high court allowed Oasis Commercial’s police protection to enter its plot in Elappulla, the court barred the brewing company from carrying out any construction.
Mr Sebastian warned that any attempt by the company to start construction at the site despite the High Court order would be met with a collective backlash from the public.
Published – 29 Nov 2025 20:25 IST
