For 25 years, five wards in Kulathoor panchayat keep campaign noise at bay

Parassala (Thiruvananthapuram): While the rest of the state buzzes with election noise, five wards in Kulathoor Panchayat stand out for their uniquely quiet, almost entirely silent campaigning.

In these wards, candidates are permitted to hold public processions and display flex boards or party flags on only one designated day. After that, the candidates must remove all campaign materials themselves.

This unique practice is observed in the coastal wards of Paruthiyoor, Pozhikkara Beach, Mullassery, Kollankode and Poypallivilakam. On ordinary days, there is no graffiti, announcements, banners or posters as campaigning happens quietly, mostly through door-to-door visits.

The tradition began 25 years ago after a murder occurred during an election campaign. In response, residents of Paruthiyoor, Pozhikkara Beach and Mullassery convened a meeting at the local parish and imposed these restrictions. Around 15 years later, the wards of Kollangod and Poypallivilakam, under the South Kollangod parish, also adopted the same model.

As a result, the usual noise of electioneering comes to an abrupt halt at Pozhiyur Palakkadav, the gateway to these villages. Because the rules apply to all, political parties too have no objections.

“This is a practice that has been followed for years, and we have no complaints at all,” said GL Anil, LDF candidate from Paruthiyoor.

Sunil Binans, UDF candidate in Poypallivilakam, added that a past dispute over election graffiti between LDF and UDF led to the decision that boards would be displayed only on the day when election rallies by candidates are permitted.