The candidacy of former Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) T K Ratnakumar in the Kerala local body election caused so much noise. CPM picked him to contest from Ward 23 (Kottur) of the Sreekandapuram municipality in Kannur. The opposition parties cried foul. He was part of the Special Investigation Team, which probed the alleged suicide of former ADM Naveen Babu. A cop who handled a controversial case and then switching to a CPM candidate was cannon fodder for the rivals. 

Two weeks into the campaign, Ratnakumar has made an easy shift from an immaculate uniform and stern demeanour. During house visits, he hits it off with voters, moving around in a neatly pressed shirt and dhoti. Ratnakumar represents the growing brigade of retired government officials who have taken a liking for local self-governance. Ratnakumar says it is a way of staying with the people post-retirement.

“After retirement, staying at home felt distressing. When you suddenly stop after years of being active, loneliness hits. I’ve always been connected to my home place, even when I worked elsewhere. Sreekandapuram still needs much more development. I want to contribute to that progress and make the municipality known across Kerala.” He hopes to bring the same sincerity and discipline from his policing career into his political work.

Over the years, retired bureaucrats and government officials who played frontline roles during the 2018 and 2019 floods, Nipah outbreaks, the Covid-19 pandemic, and other major crises have found their calling in local body politics. Their deep understanding of government procedures, documentation and administrative systems has also become a key advantage as parties want to be spot on with their choices.

For former Kozhikode Deputy Collector Anitha Kumari, who is now the CPM’s candidate from Ward 53 (Mathottam) in the Kozhikode Corporation, the shift to politics is a natural extension of her ground-level work. She retired in May 2025 after 36 years of service, eight of them as deputy collector. “My experiences during the floods, Covid, Nipah and even cyclone Ockhi gave me the confidence to be a candidate,” she says. A nodal officer during multiple emergencies, she also served as special officer of ‘Udayam’, the district administration’s comprehensive rehabilitation project. “This is not a burden — it’s another opportunity to serve,” she says. Active in employee unions during her career, she believes the Left approached her after evaluating her performance in Kozhikode.

Retired Sub Inspector M S Thirumeni, LDF candidate from Edavattom (Ward 9) of Maravanthuruthu grama panchayat in Kottayam, echoes the same sentiment. “Whatever appreciation I received in service was for helping people. This is another way to do that,” he says. He was active during the floods and Covid response, took part in hospital-related services, and has long been involved in library and cultural activities in his locality. He also served as the district secretary of the Kerala Police Officers Association.

Former Special Branch SI Joseph Muakalai, contesting for the LDF from Ward 8 (Thalayolaparambu East), retired in 2011 after 32 years of service. With his children settled abroad, he lives alone, and he has a key bonus - plenty of time. "I have the time to be available 24x7. For me, this is not politics — it’s public service," he says. Familiar with administrative procedures, he says he is contesting not for financial gain but to do something meaningful for his community.

Kerala’s first woman IPS officer, R Sreelekha, is also in the fray, contesting from Sasthamangalam ward in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation for the BJP. The state’s first woman to become DGP in 2017, she retired after 33 years in the force. She has earlier called her candidacy“historic,” saying she is unaware of any other retired IPS officer contesting a local body election anywhere in the country.

Retired SI B Rajasekharan is contesting for the second time this year. Elected in 2020 from Vaikom municipality’s EVR Ward (22) on a Congress ticket, he is now the party’s candidate in Polasserry (Ward 25). With 33-and-a-half years of service, he says, “Whether in uniform or in politics, the core of the work is public service.” Known for resolving minor issues locally without burdening the police, he also helped residents navigate formal procedures when cases had to be taken forward. “The party and people asking me to contest again mean they were satisfied with my previous work,” he says.

Ex-cops turned local body representatives also see a link between policing and politics, like the Retired SI K V Udayappan, who represented Madappallay West (Ward 12) in Thalayazham grama panchayat in Kottayam after winning in 2020. Awarded multiple times for people-friendly policing, he says his long association with residents gave him a clear understanding of local issues. Earlier, an active SFI worker, he returned to politics after retiring from the Kuruvilangad police station. “The party approached me, and I agreed. I am delighted with what I could do in the past five years,” he says.

 Advocate K Chandrika, who was Thiruvananthapuram Mayor (2010-15) and worked at KSEB for 29-and-a-half years before taking voluntary retirement, also says the biggest strength retired officials bring is their familiarity with documentation. “We can handle files and clerical work much faster, which is crucial for development,” she says. But she adds that administrative skills alone are not enough: one must also be familiar with people and their issues. Active in unions and resident associations, she became a councillor in 2005 and Mayor in 2010. She faced criticism for taking voluntary retirement just 18 months before her actual retirement, but says public service was more fulfilling than her job at KSEB. After stepping aside in 2015 to make way for younger candidates, she continues to practise as an advocate.

“I was earning ₹40,000 at KSEB when I took voluntary retirement in 2005 to contest elections. The councillor’s honorarium was only ₹1,200 then. Many criticised me for that decision, but I loved the work,” she says.