Mattathipara, a quaint, hilly village on the border of Kottayam and Idukki districts, is often described as a traveller’s paradise. A glance at its political map reveals a geography that's far more intriguing. The same village is split between two districts and two panchayats, and this administrative divide has turned neighbours and former party colleagues into electoral rivals.

Though most of Mattathipara falls within Kottayam district, a significant portion lies in Idukki. Administratively, the village is shared by the Kadanad panchayat in Kottayam and the Karimkunnam panchayat in Idukki. Both panchayats also share wards that carry the same name- Mattathipara- though they fall under different numbers- Ward 2 in Kadanad and Ward 10 in Karimkunnam.

The division has also split the village's spiritual centre- Holy Cross Church Mattathipara- with the church building and parish hall in Kottayam, with its cemetery in Idukki.

Mattathipara has been divided between two districts and two panchayats for as long as its residents can remember. Politically, the village has long been a shared turf of the Congress and the CPM- the Congress enjoying an edge in Karinkunnam panchayat, while the Kadanad side has traditionally been a Left bastion. This time, however, both the LDF and the UDF have handed the Mattathipara wards to their respective Kerala Congress factions.

Adding another layer of intrigue, all the candidates were once part of the same Kerala Congress (M) before the party split following the death of its long-time leader KM Mani. Today, former colleagues and neighbours find themselves battling one another from opposite fronts.

In Karinkunnam panchayat's Mattathipara ward, the contest is between Saji Philip of the Kerala Congress and Mathew NM (Sabu Narikunnel) of the Kerala Congress (M). The NDA has fielded independent candidate Raju KP.

In Kadanad panchayat's Mattathipara ward, PD Sebastian Ponattukunnel of the Kerala Congress is pitted against Biju Mathew of the KCM faction. The BJP has placed its hopes on Sujith TG, a young photographer aiming to make significant inroads in the ward.

All the candidates, remarkably, live within a one-kilometre radius- a testament to how closely knit the village is. For residents of Mattathipara, every name on the ballot is a familiar face, turning the election into a dilemma of choosing between neighbours rather than political rivals.

"It isn't an intense contest here in Mattathipara. It's more like a friendly match," said Agin M Babu, a resident and social worker. "All the candidates are from the village and there's no enmity between them. That makes it hard for us, because everyone is familiar. May the best candidate win," he said.

When it comes to Assembly elections, Mattathipara is split once again, between the Thodupuzha and Pala constituencies. Most key institutions, including the local bank, the Mattathipara School and the post office, fall within Kottayam district. Yet the nearest town for residents is Karimkunnam, which lies in Idukki.

The heart of Mattathipara is a small junction that neatly marks the divide between the two districts, the two panchayats and even the two Assembly constituencies. At the junction, flex boards of candidates from competing parties sit side by side- a rare sight in most places, but common for the residents. Despite these political divisions, villagers head to the polls without animosity, just as united as they were when they fought to save their lone bus service.

When Janakeeyan, the only bus connecting Mattathipara to the outside world, was on the verge of shutting down, residents came together to pool money and keep the service running- a gesture they consider their collective pride. The candidates echo the same sentiment: no matter who wins, they say, the bonds between them will remain as strong as ever.