Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram / Pala (Kottayam):Kerala’s historic town of Pala has etched its name in India’s local governance history with the election of 21-year-old Diya Binu Pulikkandam as the Chairperson of the Pala Municipality. At just 21 years and 335 days, Diya has become one of the youngest leaders to head an urban local body in the country, earning recognition as India’s first Gen Z municipal chairperson. Her elevation comes after days of intense political negotiations in a fractured municipal council, symbolising a decisive generational shift in local leadership. Diya’s achievement is being widely seen not only as a personal milestone but also as a powerful statement on youth participation, political resilience, and continuity in grassroots democracy. A Family Deeply Rooted in Local...

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala municipal election results have brought a historic political development in Thiruvananthapuram. V.V. Rajesh is set to become the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mayor of the city, while Asha Nath GS has been appointed as the Deputy Mayor, surprising many with her selection. The BJP secured a majority in the municipal corporation by winning 50 of the 100 wards. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) won 29 seats, the United Democratic Front (UDF) managed 19, and independent candidates won two seats, with one ward’s election postponed due to the death of a candidate. Since the results were announced on 9 December, the BJP has been deliberating over the mayoral and deputy mayoral appointments. State BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar consulted the central leaders...

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: In a landmark judgment, the Kerala High Court has ruled that a child born within four months of marriage is entitled to an equal share in the father’s property. The decision comes in a case where a woman and her children claimed inheritance from their late husband and father, who passed away in 2012 without leaving a will. Lower Court Denied Child’s Share:The property dispute arose after the man’s death in December 2012. His widow petitioned the lower court to divide the property into four shares among herself, her two children, and the deceased’s elderly mother. The lower court, however, rejected the claim of the elder son, who was born just four months after the marriage, stating that he was not considered the legitimate child of the deceased. The court ord...

Thiruvananthapuram: Following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed more than 24.08 lakh voters from Kerala’s voter list. The draft electoral roll was released on Tuesday, marking a significant update ahead of future elections. According to official data, out of a total of 27,850,855 registered voters in the state, 25,442,352 voters submitted their enumeration forms during the revision exercise. The remaining names were deleted for various verified reasons, the Election Commission said. Reasons for Deletion of Names In a detailed statement, the ECI explained that voter deletions occurred due to multiple factors. These included voters who had migrated and registered in other states or Union Terr...

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: This winter, the cold is not just gripping North India—it has also reached the southern states. In Kerala’s famous hill station Munnar, temperatures have plummeted to 0°C, marking the lowest temperature of the season in the state. Meteorological officials warn that the mercury could drop even further in the coming days. Munnar’s Unseasonal Chill Munnar, located in Idukki district at an altitude of 1,600 meters above sea level, is renowned for its tea gardens and waterfalls. Typically, December temperatures here range from a maximum of 23°C to a minimum of 12°C. This sudden dip to freezing point has surprised locals and tourists alike, as Kerala’s usual December temperatures hover around 30°C in most cities. For instance, Adoor recorded a maximum of 30°C, E...

Thiruvananthapuram:A shocking incident of alleged police brutality has surfaced in Kerala, where a Station House Officer (SHO) is seen pushing and slapping a pregnant woman inside a police station. The disturbing act, captured on CCTV cameras, has sparked statewide outrage and prompted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to order strict action against the erring officials. The incident occurred in June 2024 at the Town North Police Station, but the matter resurfaced after CCTV footage recently came into the public domain. The woman seen in the video has been identified as N. J. Shyamol, while the accused officer is SHO Pratap Chandran. Woman Assaulted While Seeking Husband’s Release According to the victim, Shyamol, she had gone to the police station along with her small child to inqu...

Kochi witnessed an extraordinary wedding on Friday when a bride, who was severely injured in a road accident just hours before her ceremony, was married inside a hospital’s emergency department. Determined to honour the auspicious date and the couple’s long-awaited union, both families turned the hospital into an unexpected wedding venue. Auspicious Muhurat, Unshaken Commitment The bride and groom, along with their families, decided that the marriage must take place on the scheduled day despite the crisis. The wedding was solemnised inside the VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi, where medical staff and a handful of close relatives stood witness to this rare and heartwarming moment. There were no decorations, no music, and no traditional celebrations—only love, courage, and a deep sen...