Payyannur Municipality

Payyannur Municipality is the urban local government body that administers the town of Payyannur in Kannur district, Kerala, India. It is classified as a Grade 1 municipality within Kerala's local self-government system. The municipality covers an area of 54.63 square kilometres and is divided into 46 wards, with a total population of 72,111 according to the available civic data. Its jurisdiction includes the villages of Korom, Vellur and Payyannur. The town's name is linked to the famous Subrahmanya Swami Temple, with 'Payyan' being a reference to Lord Subrahmanya, and 'ur' meaning place. Payyannur is also historically known as the 'Second Bardoli' because of its prominent role in India's freedom struggle. The municipality borders Kadannappalli-Panapuzha and Eramam-Kuttur panchayats to the east, Thrikkaripur (Kasaragod district) and Valiyaparamba panchayats to the west, Ramanthali, Kunhimangalam and Cheruthazham panchayats to the south, and Karivellur-Peralam, Kankol-Alappadamba and Eramam-Kuttur panchayats to the north. The civic body began as Payyannur Panchayat. In 1935, under restricted franchise based on property ownership and age, the first election was held and V. G. Nair became the first panchayat president. The second election took place in 1954, with Ayikkamothu Narayanan Nair as president, at a time when voting was by show of hands and the president held judicial powers. In 1964, freedom fighter and communist leader N. Subrahmanya Shenoy became president. After a gap, elections were held again in 1988, when V. Narayanan became president. Payyannur Panchayat was upgraded to a municipality in 1990. A special officer administered the municipality until 1995, when the first municipal election was held and S. Jyothi was elected as the first municipal chairperson. G. D. Nair became chairman in 2005, and in 2010 K. V. Lalitha was elected chairperson with K. K. Gangadharan as vice-chairman. Following the local body elections held in December 2025, Adv. Sarin Sasi became the municipal chairperson. Payyannur has a special place in the history of India's freedom movement. Several local leaders participated in the Salt Satyagraha and Quit India movement, and many were arrested. In 1928, a Congress session attended by Jawaharlal Nehru was held here, and that session adopted the resolution for complete independence (Purna Swaraj). The session took place on 25, 26 and 27 May 1928 at the ground near the present-day Payyannur Government Hospital. Under the leadership of K. Kelappan, a parallel salt satyagraha was conducted on the banks of the Uliyathu river in Payyannur, where salt was collected, processed, packed and sold by auction. Mahatma Gandhi visited Payyannur in 1934 to receive the Harijan Fund. Agriculture is an important part of the local economy. Major crops include paddy, coconut, arecanut, cashew, pepper, banana, vegetables and rubber. The Krishi Bhavan (agriculture office) was established in the municipal area in 1987, with one agriculture officer and three agriculture assistants. Sixteen padasekhara samithis (paddy field committees), one coconut development committee and one pepper development committee operate within the municipal limits.

Payyannur Municipality evolved from Payyannur Panchayat, which was formed during the early twentieth century. In its early years, voting rights were restricted to property owners and persons who had completed twenty-one years of age. Under these rules, the first panchayat election was held in 1935, and V. G. Nair became the first panchayat president. The second election took place in 1954, when Ayikkamothu Narayanan Nair was elected president. At that time, voters were called to the panchayat and voted by raising their hands, and the president also exercised judicial powers. In 1964, N. Subrahmanya Shenoy, a freedom fighter and communist leader, became president. After a long interval, elections were held again in 1988, and V. Narayanan became president. Payyannur Panchayat was upgraded to a municipality in 1990. Until 1995, the municipality was administered by a special officer. The first municipal election was held in 1995, and S. Jyothi was elected as the first municipal chairperson. In 2005, G. D. Nair was elected chairman. In 2010, K. V. Lalitha was elected chairperson and K. K. Gangadharan was elected vice-chairman. Following the local body elections held in December 2025, Adv. Sarin Sasi became the chairperson of the municipality. Payyannur has a distinctive place in the history of India's freedom struggle. During the Salt Satyagraha, prominent local figures such as C. H. Govindan Nambiar, T. Subrahmanya Thirumumpu, Lakshmana Shenoy, Makkuni Sankaran Nambiar, P. C. K. Adiyodi and Moyarathu Sankaran were arrested. Many people, including K. V. Sekhara Pothuval and A. V. Sreekandha Pothuval, were arrested for participating in the Quit India movement. In 1928, a Congress session attended by Jawaharlal Nehru was held in Payyannur, and that session adopted the resolution for complete independence. The session was held on 25, 26 and 27 May 1928 at the ground adjacent to the present-day Payyannur Government Hospital. K. Madhavan Nair, Manjeri Ramayyar, M. Govindakkuruppu, K. Kelappan, C. H. Govindan Nambiar, Moyyarathu Sankaran, T. V. Chathukutty Nayanar, V. R. Nayanar and C. H. Kunjappa were among those who participated. Literary figures such as Mahakavi Kuttamath, Vallathol, Nalappattu Narayana Menon, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair, P. Kunjiraman Nair, Karippath Kammaran Ezhuthachan and T. Subrahmanya Thirumumpu also took part. Payyannur is known in the history of the freedom struggle as the 'Second Bardoli'. Under the leadership of K. Kelappan, a salt satyagraha was conducted on the banks of the Uliyathu river in Payyannur, parallel to Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha. Salt soil was collected, processed, packed and sold by auction. The salt satyagraha march began from Kozhikode. In 1934, Mahatma Gandhi visited Payyannur to receive the Harijan Fund. Agriculture has been central to the local economy. The main crops of the area are paddy, coconut, arecanut, cashew, pepper, banana, vegetables and rubber. The Krishi Bhavan (agriculture office) was established in the municipal area in 1987. It provides the services of one agriculture officer and three agriculture assistants. Sixteen padasekhara samithis (paddy field committees), one coconut development committee and one pepper development committee function within the municipal limits.

• 2025

  After December 2025 local body elections, Adv. Sarin Sasi becomes municipal chairperson.

• 2010

  K. V. Lalitha elected chairperson and K. K. Gangadharan elected vice-chairman.

• 2005

  G. D. Nair elected as chairman.

• 1995

  First municipal election held; S. Jyothi elected as first municipal chairperson.

• 1990

  Payyannur Panchayat upgraded to a municipality.

• 1988

  Panchayat election held after a long interval; V. Narayanan becomes president.

• 1987

  Krishi Bhavan (agriculture office) established in the municipal area.

• 1964

  N. Subrahmanya Shenoy, freedom fighter and communist leader, becomes panchayat president.

• 1954

  Second panchayat election held; Ayikkamothu Narayanan Nair becomes president.

• 1935

  First panchayat election held; V. G. Nair becomes first panchayat president.

Grade 1 urban local body providing municipal governance and civic services to Payyannur town.

1. 1Payyannur Municipality - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2പയ്യന്നൂർ നഗരസഭ - Wikipediaml.wikipedia.org