For the first time in the state’s history, 1,183 Gen Z candidates are contesting Kerala’s local body elections, marking a significant shift in grassroots politics. These candidates, all under the age of 25, include 917 young women and 266 young men representing various political parties. Among them, 149 candidates are just 21 years old, the minimum eligible age to contest, with 130 women and 19 men seeking voter support across three-tier panchayat wards.
Student leaders from organisations such as SFI, KSU, ABVP, MSF and AISF have entered the fray, reflecting growing political inclusivity. Mainstream parties have opened doors for young leaders, signalling a notable change in candidate selection.
In total, 75,644 candidates are contesting this year’s elections, with women forming 52.36% of the candidates. Nine districts have crossed the 52% mark in female representation. In gram panchayats, 29,262 women and 26,168 men are in the race, while six corporations together have 1,800 candidates.
In a progressive move, the Congress has allotted seats to transgender candidates. In Thiruvananthapuram’s Pothencode division, Ameya Prasad has been approved by the Election Commission as a transgender candidate. In Alappuzha’s Vayalar division, Congress candidate Arunima M Kurup, a transwoman, was recorded as “female” in official documents.
