Kerala local body polls: Propelled to limelight by ‘hijab’ row in school

Joshi Kaithavalappil, campaigner of the National Democratic Alliance in Palluruthy Kacherippady part nether the Kochi Corporation.

Joshi Kaithavalappil, the Parent-Teacher Association president of St. Rita’s School successful Palluruthy, drew nationalist attraction pursuing the stance helium took successful a caller hijab row. The schoolhouse absorption had denied introduction to a pupil who arrived astatine the schoolhouse wearing a hijab and maintained that it would licence the pupil to travel to schoolhouse lone if she complied with the schoolhouse formal code. The contented had caused a large controversy. Now, Mr. Kaithavalappil is simply a campaigner successful the section assemblage elections from Ward 62, Palluruthy Kacherippady. The schoolhouse is successful Ward 63, wherever Mr. Kaithavalappil lives. “Since it was reserved for women, I americium contesting successful the neighbouring ward. I americium getting a batch of enactment from the radical due to the fact that of the basal I took successful the hijab issue,” said Mr. Kaithavalappil, who maintained that helium is contesting aft being pressurised by the party. Mr. Kaithavalappil is the territory president of the National People’s Party, an state of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Published - December 01, 2025 07:15 p.m. IST