Twenty20, the Kitex Group-backed political outfit, experienced a major dent in its electoral performance in the local body polls since its debut in 2015, as it lost power in two out of the four panchayats it had swept five years ago and hardly created a ripple in the Kochi Corporation, where it contested in 56 divisions.
The outfit retained power in Kizhakkambalam panchayat, its headquarters, albeit with a reduced margin, though it still secured a majority by winning 14 out of the 21 wards, while it swept all 16 wards in Aikkaranadu panchayat. However, it lost its majority in Kunnathunadu and Mazhuvannoor panchayats. The party managed to retain Pookkattupady and Kizhakkambalam divisions in the Vazhakkulam block, win a block division in Vengola, and opened its account in Thrikkakara municipality.
Besides, the party won seven seats in Poothrikka panchayat, six in Vadavucode-Puthencruz panchayat, nine wards in Thiruvaniyoor panchayat, six wards in Vengola panchayat, and one ward in Manakkad panchayat in Thodupuzha.
Speaking to reporters in the wake of the verdict, Sabu M. Jacob, Twenty20 president, said that the party managed to retain the Kizhakkambalam panchayat for the third straight term despite a ragtag collective of 25-odd parties from both the Left and the Right, which also fielded namesake candidates in all wards. While accepting defeat in two panchayats, he said that winning power was not the sole aim of the party.
“We managed to secure good vote share in all seats we contested despite battling alone against all parties and fronts in Kerala. Twenty20 will go ahead with its corruption-free governance model. The State Committee of the party will decide the future course of action,” he said. Though Mr. Jacob claimed that the party managed a good vote share in the Kochi Corporation, where it fought its maiden battle, the performance seemed far from it.
Though it contested in 56 divisions, it did not influence the outcome anywhere, as its vote tally fell to two digits in 15 divisions, including Island North and Island South, where it polled just five and 10 votes respectively. In total, the party polled just under 9,400 votes across all 56 divisions. In short, Twenty20 failed to do what V4 Kochi, a new outfit, managed to do in the election in 2020, when it contested in 59 divisions, polled over 10% vote and dictated the fate of both the LDF and the UDF candidates in many divisions
The party’s highest vote tally was recorded in the Chalikkavattom division, where it polled 483 votes yet finished last among the three candidates. In the Nazreth division, it managed 353 votes and finished third ahead of the BJP and the fellow-struggler Aam Aadmi Party. It also finished third in the Fort Kochi Veli division, ahead of the BJP, with 345 votes. The tally of 332 votes was enough for the party to finish above the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, the National Democratic Alliance partner, which also drew a blank in the Corporation. Thattazham was the only division where it managed to poll more than 300 votes, with the tally pegged at 331.
Published – December 13, 2025 08:41 pm IST
