As Kerala moves into yet another electoral season, the landscape of both villages and towns is set to transform into a vibrant, heated arena of democratic participation. With elections scheduled for December 9 and 11, and results to be declared on the 13th, more than 23,500 wards across 1,199 local bodies will witness a massive contest involving lakhs of candidates. But beyond the noise of campaigning, sloganeering, and colorful banners, lies a deeper truth nation-building begins right here, at the Panchayat level.
At the grassroots, politics is not a distant abstraction. Panchayats are not miniatures of government they are the foundation upon which the governance of the state and nation rests. Those who govern at higher levels began somewhere, often right in these local bodies. This is why the issues raised today wildlife attacks, street harassment, pollution, and waste management are not small; they are microcosms of the national agenda.
It is a time to open up conversations on development. Yet this space must never be handed over to communal or extremist elements, who thrive on division rather than progress. Panchayat elections are not warfronts of ideology; they are neighborhood decisions. In many cases, candidates and voters are friends, relatives, or neighbors. This proximity demands a self-imposed code of conduct, one that goes beyond the Election Commission’s guidelines.
Victory should come not through the humiliation of opponents but through the moral dignity and capability of one’s own leadership.
The coming election is not just a procedural festival of democracy it is an opportunity to shape the next five years of local development. The notification will be issued on November 14, and the selection of candidates must happen in a compressed timeline. Yet, even before the official announcement, parties had already activated their machinery, indicating how crucial these elections are.
Panchayat elections remind us that participation goes beyond casting a single vote. Here, voters collaborate in local development, regardless of political leanings. Every elected member will touch the lives of citizens through roads, healthcare, education, sanitation,
and public services. Therefore, the mandate we give today becomes the quality of life we live tomorrow.
Kerala has its own set of deep-rooted issues. Road wildlife conflict continues to haunt families. Waste management remains a major failure monthly household plastic collection represents only a small fraction of the real crisis. Water sources are polluted, lifestyle diseases are rampant, and basic amenities like public toilets and playgrounds remain unavailable in many wards.
In such a scenario, bringing communal forces into panchayats is akin to poisoning the very well of local democracy. Extremist influences whether they come from fringe groups or individuals embedded within mainstream parties must be kept out. Transparency, secular values, and accountability should be non-negotiable.
Panchayat elections in Kerala have historically witnessed violence murders during campaigns and clashes on voting eve. But unlike state or national leaders, panchayat representatives live among us. They are the ones we meet at the market, during emergencies, or while seeking basic public services. Supporting someone with a history of dishonesty or aggression is equivalent to inviting instability into our own daily lives.
A Panchayat member should be a community’s trustee, not a tyrant. Integrity is not optional it is fundamental.
Candidates should not be challenged or harassed for votes. Voters must observe, evaluate, and question but with dignity. The Election Commission must ensure transparency to maintain credibility. Fake voting, fraudulent practices, or voter apathy weaken the very pillars of democracy. Those who abstain from voting or indulge in malpractice betray not the system, but their own society.
Let us be vigilant. Let us be responsible.
No manifesto, advertisement, or campaign promise holds value unless it clearly states how it will be implemented. Be it wildlife issues, road safety, water purity, or waste management citizens must demand clarity from parties and candidates. Dialogue is the first step to accountability.
If we truly dream of a better India, we must begin at home within our wards, our neighborhoods, our panchayats. Development is not delivered top-down; it grows upwards from the grassroots.
With thoughtful participation, informed voting, and vigilant citizenship, we can build a Kerala and an India that stands on the strength of its villages.
Let us start nation-building at the Panchayat.