Malappuram: In Payimbadam ward of the Edakkara panchayat, posters of a smiling Hasina still hang from walls and electric poles. Boards across the village declare, "Hasina Teacher will lead this land." But before residents could cast their votes, the woman they hoped to elect died suddenly, plunging the ward into grief.

Hasina Vattath, an anganwadi teacher and the UDF candidate in Ward 7, collapsed and died shortly after returning home from an election programme. According to local residents, she had been visiting houses until about 10.30 pm on Sunday, meeting voters and seeking support. Around 11.15 pm, after reaching home, she felt uneasy, collapsed and passed away.

The UDF had chosen Hasina as their candidate in the newly constituted Payimbadam ward, recognising her immense popularity among local residents. When the people saw the lifeless body of the woman who had just visited them seeking their votes, they could not hold back their tears.

Hasina had served as a panchayat member during the 2020–25 term and was the Panchayat Committee President of the Women’s League. Payimbadam was a ward where the UDF had been expecting a comfortable victory this time.

Aryadan Shoukath MLA, DCC president V S Joy, and others paid their last respects to Hasina. An all-party meeting expressed condolences over her untimely death. The meeting was presided over by Panchayat president P Usman.

District panchayat president Ismail Moilothadam, C H Iqbal, Jasmal Puthiyara, P Ashraf, V K Shanavas, N K Kunjunni, V P Jaleel, Valapra Rasheed, V P Rasheed, Antony Mathew, A P Anil, and others also spoke.