The Pembilai Orumai – women’s unity – which took on tea giant Kannan-Devan and rejected all organised trade unions and political parties to bring the company to its knees, has won three seats in the Kerala local body elections.

Gomathi, one of the 39 candidates fielded by the Orumai in Idukki district, has won from the Devikulam ward in Devikulam block panchayat.

Two other candidates of the front, Vellathayi and Mariyammal won in their respective seats in the Munnar grama panchayat.

With neither the LDF nor UDF managing a simple majority in Munnar, the support of Pembilai Orumai becomes crucial now.

In September, 4,000 women workers of the Kannan-Devan Hills Plantations struck work to demand better wages and working conditions. They rejected the support of trade unions alleging that some union leaders had cheated them of their bonus, which they say was reduced by the company with the leaders’ consent.