SDPI takes lead in campaign for Tirur district through Malappuram bifurcation

The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) is leading a campaign for the bifurcation of Malappuram district, demanding the formation of a new district with Tirur as its headquarters. The party will form a human chain from the Malappuram Collectorate to Tirur on January 26, 2027, Republic Day.

Though parties like the Congress, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Welfare Party of India, and the CPI(M) have supported the demand for bifurcation on administrative grounds, the SDPI is the only party to have proposed a specific district structure with Tirur as its headquarters.

The CPI(M) had earlier mooted a Valluvanad district by bringing together Ponnani and neighbouring taluks. Other parties, however, have not specified how Malappuram should be divided.

“We demand a new district with Tirur as its headquarters, not because of any special love for Tirur, but because of the administrative convenience of bringing Tirur, Tirurangadi and Ponnani taluks together. These three taluks have a combined population of around 20 lakh,” said V.T. Ikramul Haq, chairman of the SDPI protest committee.

The SDPI has been demanding Tirur district since 2010 and has organised several protests. It argues that Malappuram, the State’s most populous district, ranks 14th in development, and that its population has placed a strain on public services and administration.

The party has cited disparities in healthcare, transport, and education to support its demand. According to figures presented by its leaders, Malappuram had a population of 41.12 lakh in the 2011 Census, while Idukki, Wayanad, Pathanamthitta, and Alappuzha together had 52.51 lakh.

Yet, the four districts together have four general hospitals with 1,364 beds, compared with one hospital with 501 beds in Malappuram. They also have 16 taluk hospitals with 1,591 beds, compared with seven with 521 beds in Malappuram.

The transport gap is another concern. Malappuram has 98 KSRTC ordinary buses, compared with 415 in Kollam, 325 in Ernakulam, and 687 in Thiruvananthapuram. The party puts the bus availability in Malappuram at three per one lakh people, against 20 in Idukki and Pathanamthitta and 29 in Wayanad.

Malappuram has 7.46 lakh students in the 2026 academic year, compared with 4.52 lakh in four other districts combined. However, it has 1,571 schools, compared with 2,124 in those districts. The party also points to the absence of Central government-managed industrial centres in Malappuram.

The SDPI says bifurcation and the formation of Tirur district would benefit people irrespective of caste or community. “We have no objection to forming other districts. Our objective is clear. Malappuram should get the first priority,” Mr. Haq said.

The party criticised the State government’s response to the demand and warned that MLAs and MPs from Malappuram would face protests and would not be allowed free movement in the district if any future district reorganisation excluded Tirur.