An oasis of peace in the midst of electoral chaos is Pariyaram

Pariyaram, 16km from Thiruvananthapuram city, offers a distinct image from the rural election season sights of party workers out canvassing and holding poster battles, and walls covered with names and symbols of candidates.

It lacks all the craziness of a poll campaign, like an island of peace in the middle of a sea of mayhem. This Nedumangad municipality ward is gray, quiet, and relaxed, like a scene from a film with Adoor Gopalakrishnan or G Aravindan, even on the hottest days of early summer.

Throughout the 1.5 kilometers of the ward, not a single poster, flex board, graffiti, or flag can be seen, much alone an office for the election committee. About forty years ago, Pariyaram residents—roughly 500 families—heeded the warning not to swim against the tide.

“Our elders decided early in the 1990s not to put campaign posters on the walls or display party flags,” 70-year-old Sarngadharan explains. “CPM used to control this highly politicized region. A few of us later entered Congress. What came next was a time of intense political unrest, particularly in the lead-up to elections, which often resulted in bloodshed. Social conflicts were also abundant in the circumstance. The illegal alcohol lobby prospered. All of this led to attacks between groups and the death of a guy, he claimed.

Sarngadharan claims that the elders resolved to stop all of the bloodshed by taking things into their own hands. “Campaigning was not to take place. Political parties were allowed to convene, but after such programs, they had to take down all signs, banners, and posters right away, he said.

The locals also made the decision to skip hartals. Pariyaram ward councillor A Surendran, vice-chairman of Nedumangad municipal assembly, said, “All political parties have abided by the decision.” This is where we have open forums, but afterward there’s cleanup. Everyone works together. This is not to say that individuals do not have political opinions. They really do. Campaign flyers are distributed door to door by parties, he added.

The choice is also well-received by the younger generation. Shop owner Jiji Krishna adds, “We have had one of the issues commonly linked to campaigns.” Years have passed since there were conflicts over polls. We keep our stores open even on hartal days,” he said.