Idukki: Former MLA and senior Congress leader Adv EM Augusthy has announced his retirement from active politics after losing the Kattappana municipality elections to the LDF. Augusthy, a three-time legislator who has held several key positions, including District Bank president, KPCC general secretary, AICC member, and DCC president, had contested from the Irupathekkar ward of Kattappana municipality.

CPM candidate CR Murali defeated Augusthy, while BJP candidate Ratheesh PS finished third. Murali secured 303 votes, Augusthy 244, giving the LDF a victory margin of 59 votes.

Disappointed by the results, Augusthy took to Facebook to announce his decision to step away from active politics. “From now on, I will no longer be on the stage but among the audience. I will not be speaking; I will be listening,” he wrote.

In his post, Augusthy said he respected the people’s verdict and congratulated the winners. Acknowledging that it was time to end his political journey that spanned over five decades, he thanked all those who had stood by him throughout his career. He also apologised to anyone who may have been hurt unknowingly during this period. He stated that he would continue to work for the Congress party throughout his life, but only as a listener and not as a speaker.

Augusthy’s entry into the municipal polls had kept the Kattappana election in the spotlight. With the chairman’s post reserved for the general category this time, he decided to contest. Joy Vettikkuzhi, the UDF district convener and another candidate for the chairmanship, emerged victorious.

From the beginning, the UDF witnessed internal divisions, group rivalry, and dissident moves in Kattappana. The LDF had hoped to capitalise on the infighting to capture power. Though it failed to wrest power in the municipality, the LDF improved its performance from the 2020 elections.

Head tonsured after defeat to MM Mani 
In the 2021 Assembly elections, Augusthy tasted defeat in the Udumbanchola constituency. Pre-poll surveys had predicted LDF candidate MM Mani’s victory with a margin of over 20,000 votes. Responding to this, Augusthy had publicly declared that he would shave his head if Mani won.

Mani eventually won by more than 30,000 votes. Though Mani urged Augusthy not to shave his head, saying elections should be seen as a contest. However, the UDF leader insisted on keeping his word and later visited Velankanni, where he tonsured his head.

Augusthy was elected to the Assembly from Udumbanchola in 1991 and 1996, and from Peerumade in 2001.