Deadlock in Thiruvananthapuram’s Vilavoorkkal Panchayat: Independents to Decide Who Rules

Thiruvananthapuram: The recent local body elections have resulted in an intriguing and humorous outcome in the Vilavoorkkal Panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram, where no single front has secured a clear majority. Both the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Left Democratic Front (LDF), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have each won six seats, leading to a political stalemate. The fate of the panchayat’s governance now rests in the hands of two independent candidates who emerged victorious.

The two independent winners, Gopalakrishnan, an auto-rickshaw driver from Chuzhattukotta ward, and Sudheer Kumar, who contested from Perumkavu ward, have emerged as the crucial kingmakers. A notable aspect of their victory is that both declined offers of party seats to contest independently. Interestingly, both also share the commonality of winning under the ‘Shankh’ (conch shell) election symbol.

Gopalakrishnan, who has previously represented the Chuzhattukotta ward, secured his victory through personal appeals, eschewing traditional campaign methods like flex boards, posters, and public announcements. Meanwhile, Sudheer Kumar, an active worker and former CPM Perumkavu Local Committee member, won as an independent after a four-year estrangement from the party.

Due to the Scheduled Caste (SC) reservation for the President’s post, neither of the independent winners can claim the position. Among the victorious candidates, only members from the Congress and BJP parties meet the SC reservation criteria. All major political fronts are actively approaching the two independents for their support.

For a stable administration, both independent candidates must collectively support a single front. If they fail to reach a consensus, the governance of the panchayat will ultimately be decided by a draw. In the previous term, when the BJP and UDF were tied, the President’s post was decided by a toss, going to the Congress, while the Vice President’s position was secured by the BJP.