In a major political twist in Kerala’s Thrissur district, all eight Congress members of Mattathur Grama Panchayat have resigned from the party and joined hands with the BJP to take control of the local body, ending the 23‑year rule of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the panchayat.

Dramatic Resignation and New Alliance

Just ahead of the panchayat president election, the eight Congress councillors who had won the recent local body polls submitted their resignations from the party and formed a new front with the BJP and rebel independents.

With this new alliance, independent candidate Tessy Jose Kallarakkal was elected as the new panchayat president, defeating the LDF’s nominee and breaking the Left’s long‑standing hold over Mattathur.

Seat Distribution and Voting Details

In the recent local body elections, Mattathur panchayat’s 24 wards were distributed as follows:

  • LDF: 10 seats
  • UDF (Congress): 8 seats
  • NDA (BJP): 4 seats
  • Independents: 2 seats

During the president’s election, Tessy Jose secured 12 votes — 8 from the resigned Congress members, 3 from BJP councillors (one BJP vote was declared invalid), and support from the two independent rebels. The LDF candidate received the backing of all 10 LDF members.

Why the Congress Members Resigned

The eight Congress members cited internal party disputes and alleged injustice by the district and block leadership as the reason for their resignation.

In their resignation letters, they stated that they were not given adequate support during candidate selection and that their grievances were ignored by the Thrissur District Congress Committee (DCC) and Mandalam leadership, prompting them to quit and form a new front.

BJP’s Role and “Operation Thamara”

The BJP has welcomed the move, describing it as a people’s mandate and a step towards ending LDF dominance in the area.

Local BJP leaders say that when the Congress members decided to leave the party, the BJP extended support to ensure a stable administration. The episode is being referred to in local political circles as “Operation Thamara” in Mattathur.

Left’s Reaction and Allegations

The LDF and CPM have strongly condemned the development, calling it an “unholy alliance” between the Congress and BJP that undermines democratic norms.

CPM Mattathur Area Committee members allege that Congress district leaders and a BJP state leader camped in the panchayat on the day of the election and worked in coordination to wrest control from the LDF, despite the Left being the single largest group.

Congress Leadership’s Response

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has suspended the primary membership of DCC General Secretary T M Chandran and Mandalam President Shafi Kalluparambil for allegedly leading efforts that put the party in crisis at Mattathur.

However, the Congress state leadership has not yet taken disciplinary action against the eight councillors who resigned, nor has it officially commented on the local‑level understanding with the BJP, leaving the situation fluid.

CM Vijayan’s Remarks

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sharply criticised the Congress, accusing it of facilitating the BJP’s growth in the state by enabling such defections.

In a Facebook post, Vijayan described the Mattathur episode as a “vicious trend of turncoat politics” that strengthens the Sangh Parivar’s project and normalises defections, warning that such moves “fuel the BJP’s ambitions” in Kerala ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Local Impact and Future Implications

Protests have erupted in Mattathur, with LDF workers and local residents demanding that the panchayat be restored to the Left, while the new administration is focusing on immediate development works and welfare schemes.

Political observers see this as a sign of deepening internal rifts within the Congress in Thrissur and warn that similar churn could repeat in other panchayats if the leadership fails to address grassroots discontent.

What Comes Next?

The Congress is now assessing whether to disqualify the eight ward members under the anti‑defection law or take other legal steps, while the BJP is consolidating its position in the panchayat.

With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, the Mattathur episode is being closely watched as a potential indicator of shifting political equations in central Kerala, especially in areas where Congress and BJP may tacitly cooperate against the LDF.