KOCHI: After its historic victory in the local body elections, Twenty20, an initiative by the Anna-Kitex Group, has decided to focus on resolving the basic problems in the Kizhakkambalam panchayat.
The top promises of Twenty20 include a panacea for the drinking water crisis in the area; making the panchayat liquor free; construction of houses for the poor; electricity connection and toilet facility for all; to make essential commodities available to the public at ‘half-price’ and distribution of nutritious food to children and pregnant women.
The other populist measures in the manifesto of Twenty20: homemaker women will be imparted education on computer/smartphone to familiarise them with the social media; free Wi-fi connectivity; construction of movie theatres and parks; rubberising and tile-paving of roads, and health insurance for all.
“The Kitex Group is not going to construct even a single toilet in the panchayat. Twenty20 is for the people, and the people of Kizhakkambalam have given it the mandate. We are going ahead with the vision to transform Kizhakkambalam into the best among the 2.72 lakh panchayats in the country.
My father M C Jacob had a dream to strive for the development of the area where our business was rooted. In our case, it is Kizhakkambalam and we are working towards the betterment of our native place,” said Twenty20 chief coordinator and Kitex Group managing director Sabu M Jacob.
“We have been operating for the past 20 years. When we announced that Twenty20 would be contesting in the polls, political parties had turned their guns at us. The Anna-Kitex Group promoters are not running business in Kizhakkambalam while living in the US. Our families have been living here for a long time, and we drink the water and breath the air of Kizhakkambalam. Hence, we want to see the area develop,” said an emotional Sabu.
In the recently concluded local body elections, Twenty20 won 17 seats in the 19-member Kizhakkambalam panchayat, and two seats in the Vazhakkulam block panchayat.
Kitex Share Price Spikes
The share price of Kitex Garments increased by Rs 8.25 on Monday, the first day of trading after results of the local body election were announced on Saturday. Kitex shares closed at Rs 685.15 on Friday, and opened at Rs 670.05 on Monday. At mid-day, the stock hit the Rs 700-mark, possibly because of Twenty20’s election victory. The share closed at Rs 693.40 on Monday.
K V Jacob to Be Panchayat President Kochi: K V Jacob will be the new president of the Kizhakkambalam panchayat, where Twenty20 secured absolute majority. Jincy Aji (Kizhakkambalam ward) will be the vice-president. They were selected at a meeting of the panchayat and block panchayat members. Later, the Twenty20 executive committee granted approval to the decision. The new council will be sworn in at the panchayat office at 10.00 am on November 12. K V Jacob was a member of the outgoing panchayat committee, having elected as an Independent backed by the CPI in 2010. M V George (Pazhanganadu) will be the Development Standing Committee Chairman and Lalu Varghese (Vilangu) will be the Welfare Standing Committee chairperson. Njaralloor ward member Valsa Teacher will be the new Health and Education Standing Committee chairperson.