After their tiring run-ins with the administrative system, two bus owners and an entrepreneur have chosen the local body elections to vent their protest.

Thrissur native Athul Krishna first drew public attention by exposing developmental lapses in his panchayat after officials shut down his business. Baby Gireesh and Bony Thomas from Kottayam hogged headlines for their prolonged legal and administrative battles with the state’s Transport Department. All of them now contest in the local body elections, hoping to demonstrate how the system should work for the public, not against them.

The civil engineer turned activist
Athul Krishna, now the BJP candidate in Ward 3 of Mattathur grama panchayat, in Thrissur, had a horrible start to his business venture after the panchayat had shut down his newly launched cement block-manufacturing unit just 12 days after its opening, citing pollution issues. Despite repeated appeals, approval was never granted.

A civil engineering graduate, Athul converted the unused facility into a finishing school for civil engineering graduates, which now trains over 200 students. Six months ago, he began publicly questioning the panchayat’s functioning. His Instagram video exposing waste dumped beside the panchayat office crossed one lakh views in a single day, followed by several posts highlighting neglected public spaces. Panchayat members responded with counter-videos, and subsequently, at least five cases were filed against him, alleging defamation.

“The ward members are not communicating properly with the people. Only those close to them know what is happening,” says Athul. “Whenever we ask for development, they say it’s not possible. I want to change that and show what can actually be done.”

He says it was the insistence of the youth in his ward that pushed him to contest. “I may not know what all changes can be made if I win, but I want to try — at least to build a playground for the youth here.”

His campaign is run largely by young volunteers, even though he is contesting against his own brother, CPM candidate Sudeesh. So far, Athul has released more than 50 videos exposing administrative lapses, and he claims even government officials are now helping him understand procedures and public records.

If elected, he plans to maintain full transparency: “Every detail of the panchayat-related activities will be made public through social media.” He has framed the stop memo document and kept it in his office. For him, that document is the inspiration.

Kottayam bus owners turn candidates
Friends and transport operators Bony Thomas and Baby Gireesh from Kottayam are also in the electoral fray. Both are contesting as independent candidates after a series of legal battles against the state over transport permits.

Gireesh, owner of Robin Bus service, is contesting from Ward 8, Idamuruk in Melukavu panchayat. His conflict began when five of his routes were cancelled. He secured an All-India Tourist Permit and launched the Pathanamthitta–Coimbatore service, but MVD officials blocked his buses from accessing private stands. Though he secured favourable verdicts from both the High Court and Supreme Court, he alleges the orders remain unimplemented.

“I know only the bus business, and the government is destroying it,” he says. “From that frustration, Bony and I decided to contest.” Gireesh argues that private operators are treated unfairly when compared to KSRTC. “For Sabarimala service through the reserve forest, private buses must be BS6 (emission standards for vehicle exhausts), but KSRTC uses BS2 and BS3 even. The system is blind to its own violations.”

His campaign follows an unusual approach—no posters, no flex boards, and no house visits. “I call each voter personally and ask for support," he said. Despite his health concerns, he says support is strong and hints at larger ambitions: “If I can, I will contest against Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar in the next Assembly election. A minister not respecting the Court is dangerous to society.” Gireesh has five stage-carriage buses, three of which have an All India tourist permit.

Meanwhile, Bony Thomas, owner of Little Kingdom bus service, who contests from Ward 1 (Perunnilam), Poonjar panchayat, is fighting a legal case against KSRTC’s tourist services, which he says operate parallel to and undermine private tourist services. “The same people contest every election, but none stand for us. Winning or losing is not the point—challenging the system is,” he says.

Supported by large groups of youth and women, he claims all major political fronts consider him their main opponent. He also accuses local members of unexplained wealth. “Members receive only a small honorarium, yet many are strangely wealthy. I am financially stable. I don’t need a bribe, and people know that.”

He alleges that KSRTC has increased parallel services to defeat him: “They are running extra services on the same route just to push me out.”

Bony, who once led KSU in student politics and whose father, V E Thomas, was a panchayat president, now owns two stage-carriage buses and one tourist bus. “Our only promise is that we will stand with the people any time. We have already proven we are not afraid of any system," he said.