Twenty 20 Party is an Indian political party active in the state of Kerala. It originated as a corporate social responsibility intiative of the Anna Kitex Group, led by Sabu M. Jacob, at Kizhakkambalam in Ernakulam district. The party made its electoral debut in the 2015 Kerala local elections.[2] It has a significant presence in Ernakulam district.[5][6]
Twenty 20 Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | TTP[1] |
| Leader | Sabu M. Jacob[2] |
| Founder | Sabu M. Jacob[2] |
| Founded | 2015[2] |
| Headquarters | Building No. IV/172, Ikkarnadu Panchayath, Kadayiruppu P.O., Kunnthunadu Taluk, Ernakulam — 682311[3] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre |
| ECI Status | Registered Unrecognised |
| Alliance |
|
| Seats in Rajya Sabha | 0 / 09 |
| Seats in Lok Sabha | 0 / 20 |
| Seats in Kerala Legislative Assembly | 0 / 140 [4] |
| Election symbol | |
 | |
| Party flag | |
 | |
History
editTwenty 20 Party started as a nonprofit charitable organization promoted by the Kitex Garments, a garment exporting company part of the Anna Kitex Group—ranked in Forbes Asia's 200 Best Under A Billion Dollar companies. In the 2015 Grama Panchayat elections, the organization won 17 out of 19 seats in the village council and secured 69 percent of vote share. According to Sabu M. Jacob, the Managing Director of Kitex Garments, the victory was because of the failure of the prevailing political parties. Kitex Garments disbursed its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for the development and welfare schemes undertaken by Twenty 20[7][8]
Following its success in the 2015 local body elections, Twenty20 expanded its political activities beyond Kizhakkambalam and began participating more actively in Kerala’s regional politics. The movement later evolved into a registered political party with a broader political agenda and organizational structure.
Alliance
editIn May 2022, the party formed an alliance with Aam Aadmi Party under the name People's Welfare Alliance.[9] The alliance was dissolved in December 2023.[10]
In 2026, the Twenty20 Party became a part of the National Democratic Alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Controversies
editSpeaking to a section of media, KITEX group managing director Sabu M Jacob, who is also the chairman of Twenty20, said he was "forced" to buy electoral bonds for giving contributions to mainstream political parties as it was "essential for the existence of business ventures".[11]
NDA alliance and internal dissent (2026)
editIn January 2026, the Twenty20 Party's decision to align with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led to internal dissent, with several leaders and office-bearers resigning from the party and joining the Indian National Congress.[12] The dissidents alleged that the decision was taken without consultation with party bodies.[12]
In April 2026, Pooja Jomon, president of the Poothrikka panchayat and a party member, resigned in protest against the alliance.[13][14] She stated that the resignation followed disagreements over the alliance and alleged that party convenor Sabu M. Jacob had threatened her, including by referring to a previous party member who had died after an accident.[15][14]
Leadership
edit| S.No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Party Officer (Presidents) |
Term in office | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assumed office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 1 |  |
Sabu M. Jacob (b. 11 May 1962) |
President Twenty20 Party | 11 May 2015 | Incumbent | 11 years, 1 month and 14 days |
Electoral performance
editKerala Local Body Elections
edit2015
In the 2015 Kerala local elections, Twenty20 won 17 out of 19 seats in Kizhakkambalam Grama Panchayat.[16]
2020
During the 2020 Kerala local elections, party won 20 seats in Kizhakkambalam, 9 seats in Aikkaranadu panchayat, 5 seats in Kunnathunad and 5 seats in Mazhuvannur.[17]
2025
In the 2025 Kerala local elections, Twenty20 retained control of Aikaranad Grama Panchayat by winning all 16 seats, and secured a majority in Kizhakkambalam Grama Panchayat with 14 out of 21 seats. In Thiruvaniyoor Grama Panchayat, the party won 9 out of 18 seats.
However, the party lost control of Kunnathunad and Mazhuvannoor grama panchayats, where it had previously held representation.[18]
Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections
edit2021
In the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, 8 candidates of Twenty20 were contested but no one won the election.[19]
2026
In the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, 19 candidates were contested as part of NDA alliance.[20] But failed to secure a single seat.[21]
Electoral performance
edit| Election Year | Leader | Alliance | Seats contested | Seats won | +/- Seats | Popular Votes | Vote % | +/- Vote | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sabu M. Jacob | None | 2 | 0 / 20 |
 |
1,45,450 | 0.75% | |
Others |
| Election Year | Leader | Alliance | Seats contested | Seats won | +/- Seats | Popular Votes | Votes % | +/- Vote | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sabu M. Jacob | NDA | 19 | 0 / 140 |
 |
3,04,566 | 1.41% |  0.70% |
Opposition |
| 2021 | Sabu M. Jacob | None | 8 | 0 / 140 |
|
1,45,664 | 0.71% | |
Others |
Controversies
editSpeaking to a section of media, KITEX group managing director Sabu M Jacob, who is also the chairman of Twenty20, said he was "forced" to buy electoral bonds for giving contributions to mainstream political parties as it was "essential for the existence of business ventures".[22]
NDA alliance and internal dissent (2026)
editIn January 2026, the Twenty20 Party's decision to align with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led to internal dissent, with several leaders and office-bearers resigning from the party and joining the Indian National Congress.[12] The dissidents alleged that the decision was taken without consultation with party bodies.[12]
In April 2026, Pooja Jomon, president of the Poothrikka panchayat and a party member, resigned in protest against the alliance.[13][14] She stated that the resignation followed disagreements over the alliance and alleged that party convenor Sabu M. Jacob had threatened her, including by referring to a previous party member who had died after an accident.[15][14]
References
edit- ↑ "TTP Candidates List For Kerala Elections 2026 - Oneindia". Oneindia. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Aneesa PA (8 April 2026). "BJP's new ally in Kerala started out as Kitex CSR drive. It's going back to basics to woo voters". The Print. Archived from the original on 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "TWENTY" (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Kerala Assembly polls 2026: BDJS, Twenty20 fail to leave a political impact". 4 May 2026.
- ↑ "14% vote share a confidence booster, says Twenty20 chairman". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Twenty20 wins four grama panchayats in Ernakulam". Mathrubhumi English. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Twenty20: Disrupting Kerala's political game". The HinduBusinessLine. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "It's a T20 match in Kizhakkambalam". 12 October 2015 – via www.thehindu.com.
- ↑ "Eyeing Kerala, AAP forms alliance with Twenty20, to take on UDF, LDF, NDA". The New Indian Express.
- ↑ "മുന്നണിയുടെ ലക്ഷ്യങ്ങൾ കൈവരിക്കാനായില്ല: ട്വന്റി20 പാർട്ടിയും ആംആദ്മി പാർട്ടിയും വേർപിരിയുന്നു".
- ↑ Raghunath, Arjun. "Kerala's Twenty20 party chief & KITEX group MD Sabu Jacob spent Rs 25 crore in electoral bonds". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 "Twenty20 faces major split after NDA alliance, leaders quit party, join Congress". The South First. 23 January 2026.
- 1 2 "ട്വന്റി 20യിൽ പൊട്ടിത്തെറി; എൻ.ഡി.എ പ്രവേശനത്തിൽ പ്രതിഷേധിച്ച് പൂതൃക്ക പഞ്ചായത്ത് പ്രസിഡന്റ് രാജിവെച്ചു". Madhyamam. 6 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Sabu M Jacob threatened, Twenty20 panchayat president resigns". Kerala Kaumudi. 6 April 2026.
- 1 2 "'രാജിവെച്ച ഒരു മെമ്പർ സ്കൂൾ ബസ് ഇടിച്ച് പോറൽപോലുമില്ലാണ്ട് മരണപ്പെട്ടു, അത് ദൈവം വരുത്താതിരിക്കട്ടേ'... സാബു എം. ജേക്കബ് ഭീഷണിപ്പെടുത്തിയെന്ന് പൂജ ജോമോൻ". Madhyamam. 6 April 2026.
- ↑ "First corporate to fight polls sweeps Kerala panchayat". The Times of India. 2015.
- ↑ "Twenty20 spreads wings in neighbouring panchayats in Kerala". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ↑ "Twenty20 loses two panchayats wins Kizhakkambalam Aikaranadu in local polls". The Week. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ "Corporate-led Kizhakkambalam Twenty 20 wins zero seats in Kerala". The News Minute. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ "Kerala Assembly elections: Actors, influencers among Twenty20 candidates". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ "പ്രചാരണത്തിൽ തിളങ്ങി വോട്ടെണ്ണലിൽ മങ്ങി; പ്രതീക്ഷിച്ച നേട്ടമുണ്ടാക്കാതെ ട്വന്റി 20". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ↑ Raghunath, Arjun. "Kerala's Twenty20 party chief & KITEX group MD Sabu Jacob spent Rs 25 crore in electoral bonds". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 26 March 2024.