Asianet Newsable

Victory Feasts Ready in Kerala: Biryani and Sweets Cooked Ahead of Results

Gargi Chaudhry — Mon, 04 May 2026 09:21:34 +0530

Political parties in Kerala have already gone into celebration mode as the state prepares for Monday's vote count, with workers preparing extravagant feasts of laddoos and biryani even before the outcome is announced. As the crucial Assembly election draws closer to its conclusion, the atmosphere in both sides is one of optimism and expectation.

In anticipation of a win, workers from the Congress and United Democratic Front (UDF) have started making biryani for about 5,000 people in Pandikkad in the Malappuram district. As part of the festivities, food will be provided from a sizable tent that has been erected in the vicinity. According to party members, 16 sizable cooking containers, each holding around 40 kg of rice, have been set up. In addition to cuisine, cultural events are scheduled to commemorate what is anticipated to be a major political victory.

“We will celebrate the end of 10 years of LDF rule. We welcome everyone, including CPI(M) workers," a Congress worker said, adding that preparations are in full swing. The UDF will continue to keep its grip in Malappuram, according to local authorities.

A sizable pandal has been built at the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee's (KPCC) headquarters, Indira Bhavan, ahead of the results. In addition to setting up LED screens and chairs for leaders to observe the counting procedure together, party leaders have ordered candies to be distributed.

Manakkad Suresh, the head of the Congress, stated that the party anticipates a resounding majority. "The UDF will secure a clear majority and win the election by 12 noon on Monday," he said, adding that all top figures had been invited.

NDA Places Massive Order For Laddoos

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has already placed a massive order for laddoos in anticipation of the festivities in Kochi. Party members intend to establish their account this time, even though the coalition presently has no seats in the Kerala Assembly.

Additionally, party leaders have created signs with candidates they believe would win important seats including Nemom, Kazhakootam, Manjeshwar, Palakkad, and Thiruvalla. According to leaders, citizens want the political climate in the state to change.

In the meantime, the Election Commission has finished setting up 140 centers in 43 different sites for counting. Over 15,000 people have been mobilised, and counting is set to start under strict security on Monday at 8 a.m.

Loan App Fraud in Kerala: Scammers Loot ₹70 Crore in 3 Years, Housewives Among Top Targets

Asianet Newsable English — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:12:56 +0530

Thiruvananthapuram: Police believe that the intense pressure from loan apps was a major reason behind the death of Nithin Raj, a student at Ancharakandy Dental College. According to the police, these loan apps are becoming a huge social threat. A shocking police report has revealed that loan app gangs have looted a staggering ₹70 crore from Kerala in the last three years.

The data also shows that one in every five victims is a housewife, and most people who complain don't follow through with a legal case. Out of all the people who sought help from the Kerala Police's cyber wing after getting trapped by various loan apps, only 20% were willing to file a formal case.

Also read: Mysuru Woman Saves Mother-in-Law from Leopard, Receives Nomination for Bravery Award

Loan App Fraud in Kerala

Across the state, Malappuram district has the highest number of complaints related to these loan apps. The report also says that most of the money transactions are traced back to Bihar and Rajasthan. What makes these loan apps so attractive is that they provide quick cash to people in urgent need. However, the sky-high interest rates, blackmail, and threats that follow if a payment is missed are ruining many lives. Despite action being taken against hundreds of such apps, these scams continue to operate even today.

ADGP S. Sreejith, who is in charge of Cyber Operations, warned people to be fully aware of the traps set by online apps. He advised everyone to take loans only through proper government-approved channels and to "have the courage to say no to these offers." "These people are ready with easy money, but they demand 10 to 15 times the amount back," Sreejith explained.

"If you don't pay up, they resort to activities that will completely ruin your reputation." He pointed out that many of these apps use APK files, breaking all the rules. "These loan apps are basically using our privacy and honour as collateral. Every person must make a firm decision to take loans only from RBI-approved banks," Sreejith urged.

Also read: Anjanadri Hill: Grandson Carries 90-Year-Old Grandma Up 575 Steps for Hanuman Darshan

'Don't Stop Our Roads': Viral Open Letter Urges New Kerala CM To End Traffic Disruptions For Public

Asianet Newsable English — Wed, 06 May 2026 21:21:16 +0530

Thiruvananthapuram: An open letter urging the new Chief Minister of Kerala to make sure his official travel doesn't cause trouble for the common person is going viral. Prashanth Vasudev Nair, the former Deputy Director of the Tourism Department, has made this request, urging the new leader to stop the practice of massive traffic restrictions and oversized convoys. Prashanth in his Facebook post says that the routine of switching off traffic lights on the CM's route must end.

He argues that the Chief Minister's travel should not come at the cost of the public's freedom of movement. He suggests that one pilot and one escort vehicle are enough, and there's no need for a long line of officials' cars. He also questions the need for a jammer vehicle within Kerala and a permanent ambulance in the convoy, assuming the new CM is in good health. Prashanth also called for removing the excessive security cordon around Cliff House, the CM's official residence, saying, "Nobody is going to attack you here."

Full text of the letter

"This is for the new Chief Minister of Kerala.

Sir,

I have been a resident of Thiruvananthapuram city for over 15 years. This means I have lived in the city when the great humanitarian Oommen Chandy was Chief Minister, and also when Pinarayi Vijayan was the Chief Minister.

Sir,

For the last ten years, we city residents have often been denied our freedom to travel. Suddenly, the traffic lights would be switched off, our roads would be blocked, and then the Chief Minister's convoy would speed past, terrorising all of us who voted these people into power. We were too scared to say anything. If we did, we would have been in trouble!

Sir,

There was an unnecessary police guard at the Devaswom Board Junction, which leads to Cliff House. Some poor policemen also stood guard in the biting cold on the side road to Charachira. I don't know who was afraid of whom, Sir. And yet, nothing happened to anyone.

Sir,

When you travel through these city streets, please do not switch off the traffic lights. I know your time is more valuable than ours. There must be ways to manage it, but it shouldn't be by denying us our right to travel.

Sir,

The security cordon around Cliff House should be removed, Sir. Nobody is going to attack you here. And even if some terrorists show up, these four or five policemen won't be able to do anything. I don't know if the people who lost power will now try to scare you! They will surely try to justify the old ways by getting the intelligence department to give you a report about a fake threat, forcing you to accept the same excessive security. You must be careful about that. That was all just a delusion of power, Sir. Please do not fall for such delusions of power and luxurious comforts. The people will be watching. And someday, what happened now will happen again.

And Sir,

Let's talk about travel outside Thiruvananthapuram. One pilot and one escort vehicle in the front and back are enough. We need to rethink if a jammer is really needed within Kerala, Sir. Whoever you are, I don't think you are in such poor health. In that case, I don't think a permanent ambulance is needed either. The vehicles of other officials should not be part of the escort.

Sir,

A Chief Minister's dignity should not be compromised at all. But the convoy should be such that it allows us to see you as one of us. We have many such hopes. Let's hope they are not broken."

How people reacted to the open letter online

People strongly supported the letter and said it reflects the feelings of ordinary citizens. Many agreed that traffic should not be blocked for VIP convoys and that public time must be respected. Several users called the suggestions practical and hoped the new Chief Minister would follow them.

Some criticised past governments for causing inconvenience, while others stressed that leaders are not above the people. Overall, the reactions showed wide public frustration with convoy culture and a clear demand for simpler, people-friendly governance

How Global Shipping Shift Is Turning Vizhinjam Into A Maritime Giant, Shashi Tharoor Highlights New Opportunity

Divya Danu — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:17:22 +0530

Rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are affecting global trade routes. This narrow waterway is one of the busiest in the world for oil and cargo movement. As risks increase in the region, many shipping companies are looking for safer and more stable alternatives. This shift has unexpectedly brought attention to Vizhinjam Port in Kerala.

Shashi Tharoor highlights new opportunity

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that the situation has created a big opportunity for India. In a post on X, he shared that nearly 100 ships are either waiting or trying to get space at Vizhinjam Port. He said global shipping is now turning its attention to his constituency, Thiruvananthapuram.

100 ships. One destination. The Strait of Hormuz crisis has shifted global shipping eyes to my constituency! Thiruvananthapuram’s Vizhinjam Port is currently seeing a massive surge with 100 vessels in queue or seeking calls.From handling its 1 millionth TEU in record time to… pic.twitter.com/QykvSldpTB

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 18, 2026

Tharoor called this moment important for India’s growing role in global trade.

Also Read: Two Sikh Men Shot Dead Outside Temple In Italy, Gunmen Fired 10 Bullets

Rapid growth at Vizhinjam Port

Vizhinjam is India’s first deep-water transshipment port. It allows large cargo ships to transfer goods efficiently.

The port has shown fast growth in a short time. It handled its one millionth TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) in record time, making it one of the fastest-growing ports in the country.

In March 2026 alone, the port handled 61 vessels, its highest monthly number so far.

Record performance in first year

According to a report by The Hindu, the port has set strong records in its first year. It handled around 12.96 lakh TEUs, which is more than its planned capacity of one million TEUs. This shows strong demand for its services.

A total of 607 ships visited the port, including some of the largest cargo vessels in the world.

Why companies are choosing Vizhinjam

The problems in the Strait of Hormuz have made shipping companies look for safer routes. Vizhinjam is now seen as a reliable option.

Its location near major international shipping lanes makes it attractive. It also has modern facilities and deep waters, which allow large ships to dock easily.

Tharoor said the port is becoming a “global necessity” as trade routes change.

Expansion plans and future capacity

Work is already underway to expand the port. The next phase will allow up to five large motherships to dock at the same time.

This will increase the port’s capacity and help it handle more cargo. Authorities are moving quickly to complete this expansion.

Also Read: 5-Year-Old Boy Killed In Telangana, Mother And Partner Arrested

Missed opportunities due to delays

Despite its success, the port has also faced some challenges.

Due to delays in expanding infrastructure, it could not handle all the demand during the peak of the Hormuz crisis. Some shipping requests had to be turned away.

Experts say that improving infrastructure faster could help India gain even more from this global shift.

Competing with global ports

Tharoor believes Vizhinjam can compete with major global ports like Colombo and Singapore.

He said the port is not just competing but setting new standards in transshipment.

With strong growth and ongoing upgrades, Vizhinjam is quickly becoming an important player in global shipping.

India’s chance to grow in global trade

The rise of Vizhinjam shows how global challenges can create new opportunities.

As tensions continue to reshape trade routes, India has a chance to strengthen its position in global shipping.

With better planning and faster development, ports like Vizhinjam could play a key role in the future of international trade.

Kerala Election 2026 Results: Inside The Stunning Fall Of LDF And UDF Rise

Asianet Newsable English — Mon, 04 May 2026 22:22:41 +0530

Thiruvananthapuram: While there are many factors that worked in the UDF's favour, the truth is that the LDF, which was aiming for a continuous term, gifted the victory to the UDF with its own mistakes. The LDF was confident of a third term, but the UDF scored big in every area where the Left faltered. The Left front's decision to dilute its core policies and compromise its secular image for a few extra votes led to this humiliating defeat. The election result is also a tight slap on the face of the CPM leadership for its organizational arrogance. The answer to why LDF lost, or why UDF won, isn't a simple one.

LDF leadership

While the LDF claimed ten years of continuous rule brought development, its own party structure suffered serious damage. The leadership was arrogant, thinking power was the only solution. Their working style became disconnected from the people, and they suppressed any voice of dissent. The Left's hallmark was always secularism, but this time, their leaders' speeches were found attacking minority religious leaderships in public. Whenever these allegations surfaced, the leaders would just double down and justify their stance. The UDF, however, did its homework and managed to convey the seriousness of this shift to the public without losing its intensity.

Community leaders like Vellappally Natesan made hateful speeches against minorities, and despite claiming to be on the Left, the CPM leadership didn't even bother to correct him. As a result, when forces like Jamaat-e-Islami tried to convert the public sentiment that arose after the CAA protests into votes, the Left front walked right into the trap. On top of all this, the leadership's greed for parliamentary posts created deep cracks even in the party's strongholds. M.V. Govindan did not ask Syamala to step aside, even when there were clear signs of dissent among the party workers.

The leadership also failed to pacify senior leaders who expressed their grievances with the party's methods. In the end, the very people who were sidelined and mocked for their 'parliamentary ambitions' became a thorn in the party's side in its own forts. Coming to the campaign issues, the government's achievements didn't click with the voters, and even controversies like Sabarimala didn't have a major impact on the voting. Even Pinarayi Vijayan had to sweat it out in his own constituency. If you look at the leaders who won easily, you'll see they weren't just party faces. Their victory had more to do with their personal merit and influence in the constituency than any major contribution from the party or the front.

Left's politics

The Left's politics was born from protests, but its government's attitude towards recent protests, like the ASHA and nurses' strikes, disappointed even its core supporters. This created a lot of sympathy for the protesters among women who interact with these groups. The LDF also couldn't counter the narrative of the 'Sabarimala gold smuggling'—a ghost unleashed by the Global Ayyappa Sangamam.

The fact that the BJP didn't effectively use this issue helped consolidate Hindu votes in favour of the Congress. The Congress, on its part, worked hard to keep the Christian communities, who were leaning towards the BJP, on their side. They cleverly used the FCRA issue to their advantage. The Congress also effectively used the Jamaat-e-Islami allegation against the LDF during the final days of the campaign. While the CPM strongly opposed Jamaat-e-Islami, it had no answer to the allegation that it was taking support from the SDPI. The CPM also didn't take the allegation of having a 'deal' with the BJP seriously enough.

With so much anti-LDF sentiment building up, things were relatively easy for the UDF. The Congress did have some of its usual last-minute drama during candidate selection, but this time, they were much faster and more decisive than before. They managed to project a united front until the elections were over and had a clear strategy on what campaign issues to focus on. The Congress, leading the UDF, carefully handled potentially damaging allegations like the Wayanad rehabilitation issue. The incredible self-confidence shown by the Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, and the energetic campaigning by young crowd-pullers like Shafi Parambil, motivated the entire Congress machinery to stand with the UDF.

UDF's success

The UDF was successful in highlighting local issues like price hikes and increases in fees, electricity bills, and water bills during their local campaigns. It seems a certain 'magic' worked for them this time, allowing them to connect deeply with the people even without a formal cadre system. Their excellent performance in the local body elections gave them a ready-made army of local representatives who campaigned for them.

They managed to create a feeling that the ruling leaders had been disconnected from the public for ten years. The UDF positioned itself as the alternative, stayed ahead on social media trends, and that's what laid the foundation for this UDF wave, which many didn't see coming.

Monsoon 2026: Early Arrival Likely in Kerala Around May 25, Says European Weather Agency

Asianet Newsable English — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:41:48 +0530

- As per the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

Thiruvananthapuram: Here's some much-needed relief for South India, which has been battling scorching summer heat. The monsoon, which usually arrives in Kerala around June 1, is expected to hit the coast early this year, sometime in the last week of May (between May 25 and June 1). This prediction comes from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

Southwest Monsoon

The report says that strong westerly winds are forming over the southeast Arabian Sea. This could bring a lot of moisture to Kerala and the southern parts of Tamil Nadu. If this happens, the monsoon could start in Kerala as early as May 25.

Also read: Karnataka Heatwave Alert: Health Department Orders Heat Stroke Management Rooms in All Hospitals

The monsoon is expected to reach the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between May 18 and May 25, and the rest of South India by the end of May. The report also suggests that Kerala and the southern districts of Tamil Nadu will receive higher-than-normal rainfall between May 25 and June 1.

Also read: Karnataka Pension Crackdown: Over 54,000 Bengaluru South Beneficiaries Under Scanner for Fake Claims

Wrong-Side Car Crash Kills Woman in Kozhikode, Scooter Splits in Impact

Asianet Newsable English — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:07:22 +0530

A woman has tragically died after a car rammed into her scooter in Koduvally, Kozhikode Kerala. The accident took place at Kacheri Mukku in Kizhakkoth around 2:30 PM.

Victim was from Mariveettil Thazham

The victim has been identified as Hafsath, a resident of Mariveettil Thazham from the Parayarukandi family. Reports say Hafsath was riding her scooter from Elettil towards Koduvally. A car, carrying residents of Pannur, was coming from the opposite direction but on the wrong side of the road and crashed straight into her.

Also Read: Man Poses As CISF Officer To Cheat Women In Marriage Scam, Arrested While Clicking Pics At Hyderabad Airport

The impact of the crash was so severe that the scooter split into two pieces. Hafsath was rushed to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital immediately, but doctors could not save her.

Elephant In Musth Runs Amok Near Angamaly Temple in Kerala, One Dead, Another Hurt; Videos Surface

Divya Danu — Sat, 02 May 2026 14:34:44 +0530

A 40-year-old man was killed and a mahout was injured after an elephant ran amok near Kidangoor Mahavishnu Temple in Angamaly, Kerala. The elephant, Mayyanad Parthasarathy, had been brought for a temple festival and was reportedly in musth.

A 40-year-old man was killed and a mahout was injured after an elephant ran amok near the Kidangoor Mahavishnu Temple in Angamaly, Kerala, on Friday morning.

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