Thrissur, Kerala – In a surprising turn of events today, all eight councillors elected on the Congress ticket in Mattathur Grama Panchayat resigned from the party just hours before the vote for the panchayat president. They threw their support behind independent candidate Tessi Jose Kallarakkal, who also got backing from the BJP members. This move helped her win the president’s post and ended the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) long hold on the panchayat.
The 24-member Mattathur Grama Panchayat in Thrissur district has 10 LDF members, four BJP members, and two independents, besides the eight from Congress (now former). Tessi Jose Kallarakkal, a former Congress rebel who contested as an independent, secured 12 votes – eight from the resigned Congress members and three from BJP (one BJP vote was invalid). The other independent, K R Ouseph, who had been a Congress rebel earlier, got 10 votes from the LDF.
This result marks the end of the LDF’s control in Mattathur, which had been under Left rule for many years.
What Led to the Mass Resignation?
The trouble started after the recent local body elections. The UDF (Congress-led front) had eight seats, and there were hopes of forming the board with help from independents. But things changed when K R Ouseph, one of the independents and a former Congress rebel, reportedly made a deal with the LDF just before the president’s election.
This angered the eight Congress councillors. In their resignation letters, they said the party leadership at the district and local level had ignored their concerns and treated loyal workers unfairly. They felt the mandalam committee and grassroots people were not given importance.
One of the resigned councillors told reporters, “We worked hard for the party, but the leaders did not listen to us. When Ouseph went to LDF, it was the last straw. We decided to stand together and support someone who can work for the people.”
Tessi Jose Kallarakkal, the new president, said after winning, “This is to stop the long LDF rule here and bring better development. People want change.”
Reactions from Political Parties
The Congress party was quick to act. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) suspended two district leaders – DCC general secretary T M Chandran and mandalam president Shafi Kalluparambil – for their role in the mess.
A Congress leader from Thrissur said, “This is a big shock for us. Internal fights should not go this far. We will look into what went wrong.”
From the LDF side, CPI(M) leaders called it an “unholy alliance” between Congress rebels and BJP. A local CPI(M) member, Rajith, said, “Congress and BJP worked together here. District leaders from both sides were seen talking on the day of the vote. This is not good for democracy.”
The BJP welcomed the outcome. Local BJP mandalam president Arun said, “Mattathur has been under LDF for years, and people wanted a shift. This is a grassroots change, and we supported it to bring good governance.”
Background of Mattathur Panchayat
Mattathur is a rural panchayat in Kodakara area of Thrissur district. In the 2025 local body elections held earlier this month, the UDF did well across Kerala, winning many panchayats. But in places like Mattathur, local issues and rebel candidates played a big role.
Tessi Jose Kallarakkal had contested as a Congress rebel in the past and won as independent this time. She had earlier said she would support UDF, but the events changed everything.
This kind of mass resignation from one party and tie-up with another is rare in Kerala panchayats. It shows how local fights can change power equations fast.
Impact on Local Politics in Thrissur
Thrissur district saw mixed results in the recent elections. The UDF won the Thrissur Municipal Corporation, but BJP made gains in some areas. This Mattathur incident adds to the talk of shifting alliances at the grassroots level.
Political watchers say such events happen when party leaders ignore local workers. It also highlights the growing role of independents and rebels in deciding who rules small panchayats.
The new board in Mattathur, led by Tessi Jose, will now focus on development works like roads, water supply, and welfare schemes. People in the area hope the change brings better results.
Broader Picture in Kerala Local Bodies
This comes after the 2025 local body polls where UDF won big, taking most grama panchayats and corporations. LDF lost ground, and BJP made history by winning Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. But in rural spots like Mattathur, local dramas continue to surprise everyone.
As the new panchayat boards settle in, more such stories may come up in hung panchayats or where numbers are close.
FAQs About the Mattathur Panchayat President Election
What happened in Mattathur Grama Panchayat on December 27, 2025?
All eight Congress-elected councillors resigned from the party right before the vote for president. They, along with most BJP members, supported independent Tessi Jose Kallarakkal. She won with 12 votes, becoming the new president and forming a new ruling group.
Why did the Congress councillors resign?
They were upset with the district and local party leaders for ignoring their issues and loyal workers. The trigger was when independent K R Ouseph, earlier seen as UDF-friendly, joined hands with LDF for the president’s post.
Who is Tessi Jose Kallarakkal?
She is an independent councillor who won her seat in the recent elections. She was a former Congress rebel and got support from the eight ex-Congress members and BJP to win the top post.
How many votes did she get?
Tessi got 12 votes – eight from former Congress and three from BJP (one BJP vote was invalid). The LDF-backed candidate, K R Ouseph, got 10 votes.
What did other parties say?
Congress suspended two leaders and called it a setback due to internal problems. LDF said it was a secret deal between Congress rebels and BJP. BJP said it was a people’s wish for change from long LDF rule.
Has this happened before in Kerala panchayats?
Mass resignation of an entire party group and tying up with rivals is very rare. It shows how local anger can lead to big shifts.
What does this mean for the people of Mattathur?
The panchayat was under LDF for over 20 years. Now, with a new president and board, people hope for faster development and better handling of local issues.
Will there be any inquiry or action?
Congress has already suspended two leaders. More actions may follow if party looks deeper into the reasons.