Kochi: As the campaign for local body polls intensifies in Kerala, Poothrikka and Thiruvaniyoor panchayats in Ernakulam find themselves at the centre of a rare political moment. Twenty20, backed by the Kitex group in Kizhakkambalam, has taken an unprecedented step in this year’s local body elections by fielding only women candidates in Poothrikka and Thiruvaniyoor. In all 18 seats in Thiruvaniyoor and all 16 in Poothrikka - regions traditionally held by the LDF and UDF - Twenty20 candidates are women, marking a first in Kerala’s electoral landscape.

The move comes as the organisation, which already governs Kizhakkambalam, Aikkaranad, Mazhuvannur and Kunnathunad panchayats, expands its presence across nearly 60 panchayats in the state, including areas under Kochi Corporation and surrounding municipalities.

The decision reflects a broader strategy within the organisation to position women at the forefront of local governance. Twenty20 coordinator and president Sabu M Jacob said the party had consciously ensured that nearly 80% of its candidates across the seven panchayats in the Kunnathunad Assembly constituency were women. "Most political parties sideline women, even though they understand community issues better. Where others hesitate to give women space, we actively promote them," he said.

According to Twenty20 Kunnathunad Mandalam President Jiby Abraham, this is the first time a political party in Kerala has fielded women in all seats of a panchayat. He said that it is more than a symbolic act and the decision stemmed from the belief that women possess organisational strengths that are often overlooked. 

"In most families, women run the household and take care of everyone while also managing their own work. Those skills are rarely acknowledged. Women are also comparatively less prone to corruption. We want to bring more of them into politics, and our male leaders are fully supporting the campaign,” he said.

Abraham explained that candidates underwent multi-layered screening, from ward to state committees, before being finalised. He said that the party was very strict about who could contest and every candidate needed to meet certain minimum qualifications. 

“A degree was mandatory for all candidates though it was relaxed to pre-degree only in a few wards with caste-based reservation. They should be able to ride a two-wheeler and have a driving licence, because a member should reach any part of her ward quickly. Basic computer literacy was non-negotiable. They also had to communicate clearly and demonstrate how they could contribute meaningfully to ward-level governance. Most are homemakers, some are working women, but all are capable and committed,” Abraham said.

Many of the candidates admit they never imagined entering politics. Reji Varghese, contesting in Thiruvaniyoor, says she long voted between LDF and UDF out of habit, until she saw what Twenty20 had achieved in neighbouring Kizhakkambalam. 

“Kizhakkambalam is our neighbouring panchayat and every time we visited relatives there, they spoke highly of the services and welfare schemes. We saw good roads, streetlights, and proper infrastructure. We wanted that here too,” she said.

Former nurse and now an embroidery unit owner, Varghese was one of the first to take membership when Twenty20 expanded to Thiruvaniyoor. “I had no political background, but they believed in me. Many of us were hesitant to speak to large groups at first. But that has changed now. After each day of campaigning, our confidence grows,” she said.

In Thiruvaniyoor, Dhanya Shaji, a working woman contesting in Ward 15, says people were tired of choosing between the same old fronts. “During the candidate selection interview, riding a scooter was compulsory. You should reach any part of the ward at any time fast. That itself made us feel more responsible,” she said.

In Poothrikka, Latha Raju, once an LDF ward member and a Kudumbashree worker, joined Twenty20 after seeing development elsewhere. “We women understand the issues of every homemaker. We manage everything, from finances to caregiving. Those managerial skills matter in governance. During the interviews, leaders made it clear they wanted women capable of handling all responsibilities of a ward,” Raju said. 

Twenty20’s campaign materials show all candidates in identical pink saris and blouses, a practice the party follows in all panchayats and municipalities it contests. According to Abraham, it is a deliberate call for equality. “We are not projecting any future president or vice president. No one person is above another. We want the panchayat to decide its leadership collectively. This uniformity ensures voters focus on the collective vision, not individual personalities,” Abraham said.