In a striking real-life political drama reminiscent of a classic Malayalam film, two brothers are pitted against each other in the local body elections in Kerala. The stage is ward 14 of the Edachery panchayat in Kozhikode district, where Congress member T K Motilal is contesting against his own brother, T K Subash, who is the candidate for the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
A Family Steeped in Political Legacy
The irony of the situation is deeply rooted in family history. Their parents, Thazhekuttiyil Chaathu and Janu, were ardent Congress loyalists. Their devotion was so profound that they named their children after iconic figures and freedom fighters associated with the party. This familial backdrop makes the current electoral battle a poignant narrative of diverging ideologies.
Motilal, affectionately called Moti by his voters, sees nothing unusual in their names. He reveals that the family's connection to the Congress runs deep. "Even my sisters' children are named Rahul and Priyanka. My son is named Sanjay after Sanjay Gandhi," Moti states. He clarifies that despite his brother Subash joining the CPM long ago, the family maintains a loving relationship.
The Siblings' Political Journeys
For Motilal, this election marks his third attempt. He proudly claims to have defeated the CPM in its strongholds twice before. "This time, CPM named Subash to run against me, and it's a friendly fight. Congress party is in our blood, and I am hoping to get elected for the party one more time," he asserts with confidence.
On the other side, Subash narrates a different political awakening. He says he felt drawn to communism from a very young age and officially took CPM membership in 1991. "Even though our family is of Congress loyalists, I was always attracted to the Left. I am a communist at heart," Subash explains. He details his journey from the DYFI (Democratic Youth Federation of India) unit committee to CPM branch leadership, motivated by the party's stand for the marginalized.
Not the First Confrontation
This is not the first time the siblings have found themselves in this predicament. A similar situation arose ten years ago when the CPM asked Subash to contest from the same ward. "I backed out then, after knowing that my brother was the UDF candidate. This time around, we thought hard about it, including with the family, and decided to go ahead," Subash recounts. He emphasizes that he and his brother continue to take all major family decisions together, keeping political differences aside.
The contest has drawn comparisons to the 1991 satirical classic Sandesham, which famously depicted brothers engaged in rival politics. Moti laughs off the analogy. "We discuss politics in the family, but we take care to prevent it from affecting our relationship," he says. While Moti is fully confident of victory, Subash claims the CPM has an edge in the current political climate.
Ultimately, the family finds a silver lining. Regardless of the outcome, they are content that one of their own will secure the seat this time, turning a political contest into a peculiar family affair. The election in ward 14 of Edachery panchayat is a microcosm of Kerala's vibrant and often intensely personal political landscape.
