Edamalakkudy keeps a list of grievances ready for the poll winner

As yet another local body election approaches, the primary issue at Edamalakkudy, the first tribal panchayat in the State, is its lack of amenities. This is the fourth local body election for the local body formed in 2010.

While the United Democratic Front (UDF) came to power after the first election, it was the Left Democratic Front (LDF) that won in 2015. The UDF reclaimed the civic body in 2020, winning six of the 13 wards. However, since 2015, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) influence has been on the rise in the panchayat. The party won three seats in 2015 and raised the tally to five in 2020. The BJP is contesting in 13 out of 14 wards (after delimitation) this time, with one nomination getting rejected during verification.

The UDF and the LDF have intensified their campaigning with the aim of emerging victorious. Both fronts have ruled Edamalakkudy for 15 years, but the panchayat still lacks proper road connectivity. “If the BJP wins, we will ensure basic amenities within 100 days with the support of the Union government. We will open another road connecting Mankulam to Edamalakkudy,” said BJP Minority Morcha national vice-president Noble Mathew. “If the Forest department raises hurdles to road construction and other development activities, we will approach the Centre and come up with solutions,” he said.

A Muthuvan tribal community member said that the many settlements in the panchayat are not connected and one has to walk 3-4 hours to reach them. “Out of the 26 settlements, only five have power supply. There is no proper hostel for students in the government school and it is affecting their studies,” said the tribesperson. “For want of a proper road, five people could not be given medical assistance on time, leading to their deaths,” he added.

The State Scheduled Tribes department sanctioned ₹18.45 crore for road construction in Edamalakkudy in 2022. In the first phase, a 7.7-km-long segment was to be constructed from Pettimudy to Edaliparakudy. Only 4.75 km has been built so far. Even the tender process of the second phase of roadwork from Edaliparakudy to Societykudy has not been completed yet.

Subash Chandran, who wrote a book titled Edamalakkudy, said he had written to the Chief Minister to provide insurance coverage to tribespeople who had to go to the polling booths through the heavily forested settlement, populated by wildlife. “The Chief Minister’s office forwarded the letter to the Devikulam Subcollector for further action,” said Mr. Chandran.