The Twenty20 party—an ally of the BJP-led Democratic Alliance in Kerala—is betting heavily on star power for the upcoming Assembly elections, drawing both curiosity and scrutiny. The party has fielded popular television actors and social media celebrities in several of the 20 seats it is contesting across the state.
The 'star power' politics has worked for the NDA in many states. In Kerala, too, the alliance successfully tested it in Thrissur, where veteran actor Suresh Gopi won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and later became a Union minister. But can the same strategy work in Assembly elections for Twenty20 led by businessman Sabu M. Jacob?
Political observers view this as a highly ambitious expansion for the party, whose primary stronghold remains concentrated within the Kunnathunad Assembly segment in Ernakulam district—specifically across its home turf of Kizhakkambalam, Aikkaranad, Thiruvaniyur, and Mazhuvannoor panchayats.
The party, however, suffered setbacks in Ettumanoor and Perumbavoor constituencies, where it had to pull back its celebrity candidates and look for new faces following the voter list controversy.
In Ettumanoor, actress Veena Nair was replaced by 25-year-old Athira D. Nair. Athira, an entrepreneur with a Master’s degree in Computer Science, is also a trained classical musician and dancer. She is the youngest NDA candidate in the state. In Perumbavoor, actress Lakshmipriya was replaced by Jibi Pathickal, who is a member of the managing committee of the Jacobite Syrian Church.
In Tripunithura, the party has fielded actress Anjali Nair, who will be contesting against Congress's Deepak Joy and CPI(M)'s K.N. Unnikrishnan.
Twenty20 has fielded activist Sunny Kadoothazhe in the Muvattupuzha constituency. A prominent figure in agrarian activism, Kadoothazhe has been at the forefront of farmers' protests against controversial amendments to wildlife and agricultural laws. He also serves as the president of the Catholic Congress for the Kothamangalam Diocese.
Social media influencer Promy Kuriakose will contest from Angamaly, while filmmaker and Bigg Boss winner Akhil Marar has been fielded in Thrikkakara.
In Pathanapuram, Twenty20 has fielded Anil Kumar S. (also known as Anil Pillai), a former Indian Air Force officer. He currently serves as the National Vice Chairman of the National Ex-Servicemen Coordination Committee. In Punalur, the party's candidate is Advocate B. Raghunathan Pillai.
In Kodungallur, Twenty20 has fielded Dr Varghese George, the son-in-law of the late Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. He brings to the table a PhD and extensive international management experience. Meanwhile, in Chalakudy, Advocate Charlie Paul—a High Court lawyer and Church PRO committee member—helps maintain the party's professional image.
Similarly, Jibi Abraham in Piravom and Thomas K. Samuel in Ranni represent the grassroots and social activism faces of the party.
Meanwhile, the party's move to give tickets to several lesser-known political faces in constituencies where its ally, the BJP, has a considerable vote base has given rise to allegations from some corners of a larger deal between the BJP and the CPI(M).
Opposition leader V.D. Satheeshan raised allegations of an implicit deal on Sunday, highlighting that the BJP had allocated several seats to a party with a limited presence in only certain areas of Ernakulam district.
The CPI(M) rejected the charges, with party state president M.V. Govindan accusing Satheeshan of spreading falsehoods throughout the day.