DPU Working Paper - No. 107

Authors: Janelle Plummer and Sean de Cleene

Publication Date: 1999

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) formerly known as Ananthapuri is one of the ancient towns of India, referred to in the book entitled “Ananthapura Varnana (Description of Trivandrum) which might have been written in the 12 Century AD. Thiruvananthapuram developed into a full fledged town during the reign of Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, The King of Travancore. Thiruvananthapuram Municipality was formed only in 1921 based on the Municipal Act (Act 1095- Malayalam Era). At the time of the formation of the Municipality the right to franchise was limited to the taxpayers amounting to 3.5 % of the total population.

The City Corporation of Trivandrum was formed in 1940 (as per Act 4 of 1116- Malayalam Era.) with a total area of 30.66- sq. km, divided into 24 wards. The first general election to the City Corporation was held in 1942 September in which the taxpayers i.e. 6.5% of the population had the right to vote. The communist movement became dominant in Kerala in the 1950s and the right to adult franchise was established in 1953. 

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