Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 17 (NationPress) A subtle yet significant transformation is taking place in the political landscape of Thiruvananthapuram, where a growing number of journalists are transitioning from their roles in newsrooms to engaging in electoral politics.

The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has historically served as a launchpad for larger political ambitions; many former councillors have ascended to positions as MLAs and Ministers. For instance, Education Minister V. Sivankutty once held the position of Mayor, while the current Food Minister G. R. Anil started his political path as a councillor.

This election cycle sees two prominent journalists, both of whom have served on the board of the esteemed Trivandrum Press Club, vying for positions in the civic elections, each running as independents despite their long-standing ties to the CPI(M).

Radhakrishnan, who has held the roles of president and secretary of the Press Club for the past seven years, is contesting from the Kannanmoola ward. He is up against a formidable four-way race that includes the incumbent Left councillor as well as candidates from the BJP and Congress.

In the Ulloor ward, veteran journalist K. Sreekantan, who recently stepped down from the CPI(M) party's daily Deshabhimani, initially launched his campaign with the expectation of being the official CPI(M) nominee.

However, when the final candidate list was released, he found his name replaced by another party member. Feeling overlooked, Sreekantan decided to run as an independent and publicly accused senior CPI(M) leader and former Minister Kadakampally Surendran of orchestrating his removal. This act of defiance has garnered significant attention in local media.

The trend of journalists entering politics is not new in Kerala. State Health Minister Veena George famously transitioned from prime-time television to contesting as a CPI(M) candidate in 2016, where she defeated a prominent Congress leader.

She successfully retained her seat in 2021 and currently oversees the critical Health portfolio. That same year, the party also nominated popular journalist M. V. Nikesh Kumar, who narrowly lost but is anticipated to receive another nomination in 2026. He has already distanced himself from journalism.

As more media professionals consider politics a viable career path, observers suggest that this trend is indicative of Kerala’s distinctive political culture, where journalists often utilize their public credibility and familiarity to achieve successful transitions into governance.