KOCHI: A corporate group opened its account in an election in India for the first time when its political avatar, tackily named Twenty20, breezed into power in Kizhakkambalam gram panchayat in Kerala, winning 17 of the 19 seats. Congress and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) won the other two seats while the Left drew a blank.

Twenty20 became widely popular in Kizhakkambalam, a village situated 22km from Ernakulam, after Kitex Group, a textile major with a turnover of about Rs 1,000 crore invested around Rs 28 crore in two years to usher in unprecedented development in the panchayat and emerge as a credible alternative to the entrenched political parties in the area.

READ ALSO: Kerala civic polls — Congress suffers setback, Left in the lead

“The Left and UDF have been ruling the gram panchayat till now. However, they have done nothing for us. Today, Kitex Group gives us groceries at half the price. They constructed 458 houses and over 600 toilets for the poor, repaired public roads, conducted medical check-ups and sponsored surgeries. Under the leadership of Sabu M Jacob (chief coordinator of Twenty20, and managing director of Kitex), we selected our candidates, and carried out a phased campaign. The results speak for themselves,” said Biju Athanipparambil, an autorickshaw driver and Twenty20 executive member.

Twenty20 candidates contested against LDF, UDF, BJP, SDPI and independent candidates. According to figures released by the district administration, an unprecedented 90.5% of 24,300-odd voters turned up at the booths to cast their votes last Thursday. In the 2010 elections, the turnout was 84%.

Twenty20’s political opponents are not too convinced about the organisation’s professed aims, saying it is a cover for Kitex’s hidden business agenda. They also allege that Sabu Jacob is known for his autocratic ways and that Kitex Group has done precious little to stop pollution caused by its factories.

“Allegations against Twenty20 and Kitex Group are baseless. I am not an autocrat and this is not a façade. We have already decided to form a political party – Twenty20 Party – and have already approached the Election Commission for registration. We are here because people are fed up with political parties’ poll promises,” Sabu told TOI.

Sabu added that Twenty20 plans to carry out Rs 300 crore worth projects in the panchayat in the coming five years. They plan to rope in other companies for corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities apart from depending on the panchayat’s plan fund.

By noon on Saturday, Twenty20’s victory turned into a mega celebration in Kizhakkambalam village as women, children, businessmen, daily wage workers and a couple of doctors took out a procession accompanied by a noisy band. When an executive member of Twenty20 was asked who would become the panchayat president, he replied: “Sabu sir will decide.” Almost immediately, he revised it: “We will decide collectively.”