Elappully panchayat president Revathy Babu is seeking re-election from Ward 6.
A proposed brewery and the fierce political divide it has sparked have taken centre stage in the ongoing local body poll campaign in the Elappully grama panchayat. With most parties united in opposition and only the CPI(M) standing in support, the brewery project has triggered a legal battle that now dominates the campaign narrative in the panchayat.
The Elapully Poratta Janakeeya Samiti (EPJS), a collective of members from diverse socio-political groups opposing the brewery, had initially planned to field a consensus Independent candidate against the CPI(M) in Chuttippara (Ward 7), where Oasis Commercial Pvt. Ltd. Intends to build the liquor factory. But the EPJS strategy to field its general convener S. Kesavadas against the CPI(M) fell apart when the BJP and the Congress nominated their own candidates. Though the BJP and Congress had agreed to support him, both of them changed stance after a media report hinted at an unholy BJP-Congress alliance in the ward.
“The Congress and BJP are now asserting their independence. We tried to field a common candidate against the social menace of the brewery. For political parties, narrow political interests outweighed the public sentiment. We decided not to contest when the key political groups showed no interest in defeating the common adversary,” said George Sebastian, chief coordinator, EPJS.
BJP’s C. Sinu and Congress’ S. Sunil Kumar are taking on CPI(M)’s C. Murali Kumar in a triangular contest in Chuttippara, which is now known as the brewery ward. The decision by the BJP and Congress to contest separately in this CPI(M) bastion has worked to the CPI(M)’s advantage.
Though CPI(M) ruled Elapully for multiple terms, the Congress wrested power in the panchayat in 2020 by winning nine seats against the CPI(M)’s eight and BJP’s five. This time, the panchayat has 23 wards.
But the Congress finds itself in a tight spot with a rebel candidate challenging its outgoing panchayat president Revathy Babu in Para (Ward 6). The rebel, Appukuttan K., contesting on the electric bulb symbol, has previously faced allegations of aiding the brewery lobby.
Both the Congress and BJP have been supporting the EPJS’s movement against the brewery. Local leaders of both parties have joined the EPJS’s legal fight in the High Court against Oasis Commercial. Although the High Court allowed police protection for Oasis Commercial to enter its land in Elappully, the court has banned the brewery company from doing any construction there.
Mr. Sebastian warned that any attempt by the company to begin construction at the site, in defiance of the High Court’s order, would be met with collective public resistance.
Published – November 29, 2025 08:25 pm IST
