In a hilly panchayat in Kerala, women have found a way around reservation norms to take the reins for over a decade. This time, the pattern has repeated, but with a twist in the end.

Since 2010, after the Kerala assembly mandated 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies, Muttom panchayat in Idukki has consistently been led by women, regardless of whether the president's post was reserved or general. Over the past 15 years, changing political equations, reservation cycles, seat-sharing compulsions, and electoral setbacks for male candidates have all contributed to a situation that eventually became the norm — a woman at the helm of the panchayat.

Across four local body elections — 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2025 — the president's post was reserved for women only twice, in 2010 and 2020. Even during the general-category terms of 2015 and 2025, the ruling fronts failed to arrive at a consensus on male candidates, paving the way for women leaders to take charge. 

In all, seven women have headed the panchayat during this period, largely shaped by alliance negotiations. Following the 2025 local body elections, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) took control of the panchayat from the United Democratic Front (UDF). Under a power-sharing arrangement between LDF allies CPM and CPI, the president's post will rotate. CPM's Independent Tessy Satheesh will lead the panchayat in the first phase of the term, after which CPI's Reji Gopi will assume office — the first man to do so in nearly two decades.

The trend dates back to 2010, when Mariya Baby of Kerala Congress (M) won from the Pazhayamattom ward. That year, the president's post was reserved for women. “I became the first woman president in the 60-year history of the Muttom panchayat. What followed was quite unexpected — irrespective of political negotiations, a woman always ended up leading the panchayat,” Mariya recalls.

She served as president for the first two-and-a-half years of the term. Under a seat-sharing pact between the Congress and the Mani faction of Kerala Congress, KC(M)'s Beena George took over for the remaining period, while Mariya continued as a member. "It was my first election, and the offer to become president came as a surprise," Mariya says. "People felt more at ease approaching a woman president. Many spoke freely about public issues. They even started effortlessly sharing their personal and household concerns to me.''

In the 2015 local body polls, the president's post was not reserved. Yet, once again, a woman emerged as president in the 13-ward committee— Kuttiyamma Michael, who won from the Thudanganadu ward. "I contested as an independent," says Kuttiyamma, a seven-time panchayat member. “The final tally was six seats each for the UDF and LDF, with me holding the deciding vote.”

"Both sides had their own choices, but without my backing, they had no majority. I made it clear that my support depended on being made president," she says. Midway through the term, differences with the UDF prompted her to withdraw support and align with the LDF, under which she completed the tenure.

The 2020–25 term saw the president's post again being reserved for women. A seat-sharing arrangement among the Congress, Kerala Congress (M) and Kerala Congress (Joseph group) led to a rotation. Congress leader Shaija Joman, elected from Thottumkara ward, served the first two-and-a-half years. The remaining period was split between Kerala Congress leaders Sherrly Augustine and Mercy Devasia.

The Congress retained control of the panchayat from 2010 until 2025, when the LDF came to power. In the current 2025–30 term, the president's post returned to the general category. Even so, LDF's Tessy Satheesh, elected from Ellumpuram ward, was chosen to lead the panchayat. She will serve for three-and-a-half years. “The situation arose because all senior male candidates considered for the post from the CPM lost the election," Kuttiyamma explains. "Among experienced leaders, only women candidates like Tessy and I won. That is how she became president.''

Under the LDF's agreement with CPI, Reji Gopi — a second-term member from the Muttom Government High School ward — will take over in the final phase of the term.

However, Reji Gopi dismisses the leadership change as a symbolic break. "This has nothing to do with gender. It is purely the outcome of party decisions and political circumstances at different points," he says. "There was never a sense that the panchayat lacked anything because it was led by women. Every woman president who served here was capable and efficient," he adds.

According to him, public interest in the shift is driven more by curiosity than expectation. "People are eager to see a change. My focus will be on completing pending development works, especially drinking water projects."