Mahe, a town in Puducherry, has been under administrative rule for 14 years without local body elections. Despite being one of India’s oldest municipalities, Mahe hasn’t seen elections since 2011. This delay is hitting civic life hard, say residents and activists. The town lies between Kozhikode and Kannur districts in Kerala and is also called Mayyazhi. Elections were first held in 1968 and then only in 2006 after a 38-year gap caused by a court order. Since 2011, no elections have taken place even though lawyer T. Ashok Kumar urged the Supreme Court for polls. The court ordered elections in 2018, but they were stalled due to ward reorganisation and issues with backward class reservation. In December 2021, a commission led by Justice K.K. Sasidharan was set up to study the backward class population, but its report is still pending. Activists say politicians fear losing power if local bodies gain strength. "Successive governments hesitate to decentralise authority," said community leader Siddhique Shalimar. Congress activist Jaseema Mustafa noted development continued despite no municipal council, mentioning upgrades to the railway station, hospitals, schools, and roads. Local MLA Ramesh Parambath has pushed these works forward. But retired Chief Education Officer Uthamaraj pointed out problems like poor street lighting, delayed walkway projects, and a neglected park that need close local oversight. The Mahe Joint Forum of Residents’ Associations is organizing a protest on December 9 at Mahe Civil Station. They demand immediate local elections, a Supreme Court–directed dog shelter, better road repairs, waste management, and responsible civic governance. Association president Shaji Pinnakkat said, "When Kerala echoes with the sounds of democracy, all we hear here is silence."