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Twenty20, which hit headlines in 2015 by winning the panchayat of its hometown Kizhakkambalam, has managed to retain the local body for the third time in the elections in 2025.
Twenty20 party, floated by garment major KITEX group, will become part of the NDA in Kerala, giving a boost to the electoral prospects of the BJP-led alliance in the next Assembly elections.
The decision was announced jointly by BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Twenty20 president Sabu M Jacob, also MD of KITEX. Sabu will share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the state capital to unveil the development plan of the BJP-ruled city corporation, a promise made by the BJP during the local body elections.
Twenty20, which hit headlines in 2015 by winning the panchayat of its hometown Kizhakkambalam, has managed to retain the local body for the third time in the elections in 2025. At Kizhakkambalam, the Congress, CPI(M) and BJP had fielded common independent candidates in several wards with the sole aim of defeating Twenty20. However, the party weathered the collective attack from the leading fronts. The arm of the business group highlighted development and welfare schemes implemented at the party-ruled panchayats, where it claimed to have eliminated corruption.
Apart from Kizhakkambalam, the party now rules another panchayat and has emerged as the single largest party in another local body, which are part of the Kunnathunad Assembly constituency now represented by the CPI(M).
The presence of Twenty20 in the last Assembly elections at Kunnathunad worked in favour of the CPI(M), as the party floated by the garment group split the Congress’ traditional votes. The BJP is not a key player in Kunnathunad. With Twenty20 in its fold, the BJP can now open a new battleground in Ernakulam district. Twenty20 had contested the Assembly elections in 2021 in a few seats in Ernakulam, but the party could not repeat its performance in the local body elections of 2020.
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
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