Pala Sees Unique Family Rule: 21-Year-Old to Lead Council with Father and Uncle
Pala, historically a stronghold of K.M. Mani, is witnessing a new chapter in its political history. The municipal administration has shifted to the hands of the United Democratic Front (UDF) following crucial support from independent candidates Binu Pulikkakkandam, his daughter Diya Binu Pulikkakkandam, and Binu’s brother Biju Pulikkakkandam. This marks the first time since 1985 that the Kerala Congress (M) has been ousted from power in the Pala Municipality. It is also the first instance of a non-Christian individual assuming the chairpersonship of the Pala municipal council.
The 26-member municipal council previously had 11 members from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and 10 from the UDF, resulting in no single front achieving a clear majority. The support of the Pulikkakkandam family proved decisive in breaking this stalemate.
In addition to Biju, Binu, and Diya, two other independent candidates also emerged victorious. One of them was Maya Rahul, a Congress rebel, who has been allocated the Vice Chairperson position for the first term. With the combined support of the Pulikkakkandam family and Maya Rahul, the UDF’s strength in the council has risen to 14 members.
Under the new arrangement, the Pala Municipal Chairperson position will be shared. Twenty-one-year-old Diya Binu Pulikkakkandam is set to become the youngest person to hold this office, marking a significant milestone in local governance.
Binu Pulikkakkandam won from Ward 14, Biju Pulikkakkandam from Ward 13, and Diya from Ward 15. The UDF had not fielded candidates in these three wards, instead extending their support to the independent alliance led by Binu Pulikkakkandam. Pala, once synonymous with the Mani family, will now also be known for the Pulikkakkandam family. While dynastic politics is not uncommon, the rare sight of a daughter, her father, and her uncle serving together in the council is truly unprecedented. The father of Binu and Biju, Pulikkakkandam Sukumaran Nair, served as the Kerala Congress (M) constituency president for over two decades.
Notably, a husband and wife duo, both former municipal chairpersons and Kerala Congress (M) candidates, are now part of the opposition in the council.
Diya Binu Pulikkakkandam, who holds a degree in Economics from Madras Christian College and was preparing for an MBA, ventured into the electoral arena and achieved what her father could not in his maiden attempt – the chairpersonship. Her father, Binu Pulikkakkandam, has had a diverse political career. He initially became a councillor as a Congress representative, then as an independent. In 2015, he won on a BJP ticket, marking the first time the party secured a seat in Pala, with his brother Biju being his main opponent. In 2020, he won on a CPM symbol, becoming the sole Left-backed member to win with the party symbol. However, despite his victory, Binu, who was openly critical of Jose K. Mani, was not given the chairman position due to pressure from the Kerala Congress (M). This time, he contested again as an independent.
Biju Pulikkakkandam has a long history as the state vice president of Youth Front (M), the youth wing of Kerala Congress. He is also known to be closely associated with Union Minister Suresh Gopi.