Pala: The political future of Pala municipality has been thrown wide open after three members of the Pulikakandam family secured decisive victories as independent candidates, positioning themselves as the key arbiters in the formation of the next municipal administration in a region long regarded as a stronghold of Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K. Mani.
The Pulikakandam family made a clean sweep in wards 13, 14 and 15, with Binu Pulikakandam, his brother Biju Pulikakandam, and Binu’s daughter Diya all emerging victorious. Their success has sparked intense political discussion, as the trio now holds the balance of power in a tightly contested municipal council.
Although the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has emerged as the single largest bloc with 11 seats, it falls short of a clear majority. The United Democratic Front (UDF) follows closely with 10 seats, making the support of the three independent councillors crucial in determining who will control the municipality. With neither front able to form an administration on its own, the Pulikakandam family’s political choice is set to decide Pala’s leadership.
Binu Pulikakandam, a seasoned councillor with nearly two decades of experience, has had a politically diverse career. He has won elections under multiple banners once as a BJP candidate, once on the CPI(M) symbol, and twice as an independent. Notably, in the previous election, he was the only candidate in Pala municipality to secure victory on the CPI(M) ticket. However, following internal disputes involving the Kerala Congress (M), Binu was later expelled from the CPI(M), marking a turning point in his political journey.
Biju Pulikakandam, meanwhile, has been increasingly active in national-level political circles and is known to maintain close associations with Union Minister Suresh Gopi. His political alignment drew attention during the last Lok Sabha election, when he reportedly cast his vote in Thrissur, adding further intrigue to the family’s political positioning.
The family’s new-generation representative, Diya Pulikakandam, contested elections for the first time and registered a notable victory. An alumna of Madras Christian College, Diya holds a BA degree and is currently preparing to pursue an MBA, symbolizing the entry of younger leadership into the family’s political legacy.
The Pulikakandams trace their political roots to P. V. Sukumaran Nair Pulikakandam, a veteran leader who served as vice president of the Pala constituency of the Kerala Congress (M) for nearly four decades. With this deep political lineage and their current electoral success, the family has once again assumed a pivotal role in Pala’s politics.
As negotiations intensify behind closed doors, all eyes are now on the Pulikakandam family, whose decision in the coming days is expected to determine the course of governance in Pala municipality and potentially reshape local political alignments.