Thu Dec 18 13:26:32 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Pathanamthitta District Panchayat Leadership in Congress Tug-of-War, Women Set to Dominate Local Governance

Pathanamthitta, India – December 18, 2025 – With the inauguration of newly elected local body chiefs just days away, the Congress party is engaged in intense behind-the-scenes negotiations to select the President of the Pathanamthitta District Panchayat. Despite holding a comfortable majority in the 17-member council (10 seats), the party is facing internal challenges in choosing a leader, with sources indicating a potential power-sharing arrangement among its prominent women members.

The party is particularly focused on choosing from the six women members of the United Democratic Front (UDF), many of whom bring prior experience in local governance. Notably, Stella Thomas and Deenamma Roy are considered strong contenders with significant organizational skills. Party sources emphasize that organizational capabilities, past experience, and the need for social and community balance ahead of upcoming Assembly elections will play key roles in the decision-making process.

This marks the fourth time since 1995 that the District Panchayat President’s post has been reserved for women. While the Kerala Congress is expected to vie for the Vice President’s position, the Congress party is reportedly keen on retaining it. To navigate the complex situation, a term-sharing formula for both President and Vice President posts, splitting the five-year term into two-and-a-half-year segments, is being considered.

Beyond the District Panchayat, women are poised to lead across the district’s municipalities. All four municipalities – Adoor, Pathanamthitta, Pandalam, and Thiruvalla – will have women chairpersons this term. The UDF holds a clear majority in Pathanamthitta and Adoor municipalities, while in Thiruvalla, despite lacking an absolute majority, they are expected to install a chairperson from the Scheduled Caste women category. In Pandalam, where the LDF holds a majority, the CPI(M) district secretariat will decide the chairperson.

Furthermore, women will lead the Mallappally, Ranni, and Parakkode Block Panchayats, and the Ilanthoor Block Panchayat President’s post is reserved for a Scheduled Caste woman. At the grama panchayat level, over half (27 out of 53) will have women presidents through reservation, signifying a significant shift towards women leadership in Pathanamthitta’s local governance.

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