M K Varghese
{{Short description|9th Mayor of Thrissur}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = M K Varghese
| office = 9th Mayor of Thrissur
| predecessor = Ajitha Jayarajan
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|6|4|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Mannuthy, Thrissur
| death_date =
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| children = Lizzy Varghese
| residence = Thrissur, Kerala, India
}}
M K Varghese (born June 4, 1956) is the ninth and the incumbent mayor of Thrissur city, Kerala. He represents the 16th division of Nettissery of Thrissur Municipal Corporation as an independent candidate.
|title=Congress rebel M K Varghese to be Thrissur mayor; LDF reaches consensus
|access-date=May 20, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2020/12/27/congress-rebel-likely-to-be-thrissur-mayor-with-ldf-support.html
|title=Congress rebel likely to be Thrissur Mayor with LDF support
|access-date=May 20, 2025}}
Early and personal life
Verghese entered public life after retiring from the Indian Army, where he served from 1975 to 1986. His political journey began in earnest following a grassroots struggle to ensure clean drinking water for residents near his home.
This initiative led to the formation of a Janasevana Samithi (public service committee), where he served as president. His leadership grew through the ranks, eventually becoming the district president of ACTS (Action for Community Transformation Society).
Verghese's early political career was with the Indian National Congress, winning as a councillor in 2000 and 2010. However, after being denied a ticket in the latest election, he contested independently and secured the mayoralty. He hails from the Menachery family and is the eldest of five children of the late Kochappu and Mary. He also served as the former executive director of Jawahar Bal Bhavan Thrissur.{{cite web|url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/local-news/thrissur/mk-varghese-new-mayor-of-thrissur-corporation/articleshow/80002162.cms
|title=From the Army to public life, new Mayor takes control of Thrissur
|access-date=May 9, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://tv.mathrubhumi.com/en/news/kerala/kmv-1.75233
|title=Rebel KM Varghese Likely To Become Thrissur Mayor
|access-date=May 9, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/thrissurs-ldf-backed-independent-mayor-supports-bjps-suresh-gopi
|title=Thrissur's LDF-backed independent Mayor supports BJP's Suresh Gopi
|date=12 April 2024
|access-date=May 9, 2025}}
Controversies
{{AI-generated|section|date=May 2025|certain=yes}}
Varghese has ignited political controversy within Kerala's Left Democratic Front (LDF) due to his public praise and apparent camaraderie with BJP MP and Union Minister Suresh Gopi. He has lauded Gopi's contributions to Thrissur's development, a stance that has drawn criticism from LDF allies, particularly the Communist Party of India.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/thrissurs-ldf-backed-independent-mayor-supports-bjps-suresh-gopi
|title=Thrissur’s LDF-backed independent Mayor supports BJP’s Suresh Gopi
|access-date=May 20, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/m-k-varghese-mayor-of-thrissur-in-kerala-hails-bjp-mp-suresh-gopi-left-uneasy/cid/2033100
|title=Mayor of Thrissur in Kerala hails BJP MP Suresh Gopi, Left uneasy
|access-date=May 20, 2025}}
In April 2024, during the 2024 Indian general election campaign, M.K. Varghese described Suresh Gopi as "fit to be Thrissur’s MP," highlighting his qualities and connection with the masses. This endorsement was seen as a deviation from the LDF's ideological position, especially since Gopi was the BJP candidate opposing the LDF's own nominee, V. S. Sunil Kumar.{{cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/07/08/fissures-in-ldf-over-thrissur-mayor-mk-varghese-suresh-gopi-connection.html
|title=Thrissur Mayor-Suresh Gopi comradeship, too bitter a pill for LDF to swallow ...
|access-date=May 20, 2025}}
The situation escalated when Varghese and Gopi publicly praised each other at the inauguration of an Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Thrissur. Varghese acknowledged Gopi's developmental initiatives, while Suresh Gopi commended Varghese for implementing schemes he had proposed as a Rajya Sabha MP.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/thrissur-mayor-praises-suresh-gopi-causing-embarrassment-to-ruling-ldf/articleshow/111525794.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com
|title=Thrissur Mayor snubs CPI, praises Suresh Gopi
|access-date=May 20, 2025}}
In December 2024, Varghese found himself at the center of another political controversy after accepting a Christmas cake from Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party president K. Surendran (politician). The gesture, which occurred during the BJP's "Sneha Sandesha Yatra," was perceived by CPI leader V.S. Sunil Kumar as a deliberate political move, given that Surendran did not offer cakes to any other mayors in the state.{{cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2024/12/28/mes3-kl-cake-mayor-justify.html
|title=Thrissur Mayor justifies receiving cake from BJP chief criticises CPI leader
|access-date=May 20, 2025}}
In response, Varghese dismissed the allegations as baseless and accused Sunil Kumar of attempting to make him a scapegoat for his electoral defeat. He defended the cake exchange as a sincere gesture of goodwill during the festive season and questioned the rationale behind politicising such an act.{{cite web|url=https://www.daijiworld.com/index.php/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1257246&utm_source=chatgpt.com
|title=Kerala BJP President's 'cake diplomacy' creates ripples in Thrissur
|access-date=May 20, 2025}} {{cite web|url=https://news.abplive.com/news/india/thrissur-mayor-mk-varghese-cake-exchange-with-kerala-bjp-chief-draws-cpi-ire-fuels-political-row-1740341?utm_source=chatgpt.com
|title=Thrissur Mayor's Cake Exchange With Kerala BJP Chief Draws CPI's Ire, Fuels Political Row
|access-date=May 20, 2025}}
References
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