BJP Candidate Protests Alone After Party Workers Desert Her on Election Day in Ettumanoor

KOTTAYAM: A surprising turn of events unfolded on election day in Ettumanoor, Kottayam, as Janajamma D. Damodaran, the BJP candidate for Athirampuzha Gram Panchayat’s Ward 6 (Ettumanoor Railway Station Ward), found herself standing alone in front of the polling station at Ettumanoor Government ITI. She reportedly remained there from morning till the conclusion of polling, with only her son occasionally bringing her water.

Janajamma, a retired university employee, was not an independent candidate but was contesting on behalf of a political party. Her solitary presence at the polling booth highlighted a significant lack of support from her own party workers.

This isolation was not limited to just polling day. Janajamma, who claims she only became a candidate after being persuaded, reportedly had to campaign door-to-door by herself throughout the election period. After initially providing some flyers and Rs 2500 for campaign expenses, party workers allegedly disappeared. When she inquired, she was informed that party leaders were busy. The BJP’s local unit, however, has indicated that such situations primarily occur in wards where the party holds little influence.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission released voter statistics for the first phase of the 2025 local body elections. The seven districts of Southern Kerala recorded an aggregate polling percentage of 70.9. This figure represents 94.08% of the total 1.32 crore voters in the local self-government institutions across Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam districts, where elections were held on Tuesday.

According to the available data, Ernakulam district recorded the highest voter turnout, while Pathanamthitta registered the lowest. The district-wise polling percentages are as follows: Thiruvananthapuram 67.4, Kollam 70.36, Pathanamthitta 66.78, Alappuzha 73.76, Kottayam 70.94, Idukki 71.77, and Ernakulam 74.58.