By Nanditha Subhadra
In the theatre of public life, few spectacles are as disillusioning as the transformation of self-proclaimed crusaders against corruption and misgovernance into opportunistic allies of the very establishment they once condemned. Individuals who don the garb of social activists, philanthropists, and anti-corruption warriors often begin with grand promises of transparency, people-centric development, and a break from traditional politics. They leverage corporate resources to build goodwill, creating model communities and subsidised welfare schemes that earn them admiration and votes. Yet, when personal or business interests come under threat—be it regulatory scrutiny or financial probes—their true colours emerge. Principles are quietly compromised, ideals sacrificed on the altar of self-preservation, leaving supporters betrayed and the public fooled. This pattern of donning a reformist mask only to discard it for selfish motives is a recurring betrayal in democratic spaces, eroding trust in alternative voices.
A stark illustration of this phenomenon unfolded in Kerala recently with Twenty20, the corporate-backed political outfit founded and led by Sabu M. Jacob, Managing Director of Kitex Group. Sabu, who funds the party almost single-handedly and takes all major decisions, positioned Twenty20 as a seemingly noble CSR initiative that evolved into a political force capturing local bodies—only to pivot dramatically toward the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) amid mounting legal pressures on his company. The move, announced just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Thiruvananthapuram in late January 2026, triggered a wave of resignations, protests, and accusations of betrayal, exposing how commerce can override conscience.
Twenty20’s origin trace back to the early 2010s as the CSR wing of Jacob’s Kitex Group. In villages like Kizhakkambalam near Kochi, it rolled out initiatives that won hearts: subsidised markets selling rice, vegetables, and essentials at reduced prices, funded by company allocations. Clean roads, modern housing, community programs, and infrastructure turned the area into a “model village.” Residents reaped tangible benefits, and the media portrayed it as enlightened corporate intervention—a rare fusion of business success and social responsibility. Jacob leveraged this goodwill to transition Twenty20 into a full-fledged political entity in 2015, positioning it as an apolitical third force against the corruption and nepotism of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front (UDF).
Under Sabu’s leadership, the outfit’s success was meteoric. It swept panchayat polls, securing control in Kizhakkambalam and expanding influence across Ernakulam district. By the 2020-2025 cycle, Twenty20 emerged as a significant player, often the single largest group in multiple local bodies. Jacob repeatedly emphasised fighting “misgovernance and corruption” under both major fronts, attracting supporters disillusioned with traditional parties. Many joined precisely because Twenty20, under his direction, claimed to stand apart from entities like the BJP, promising a clean, development-focused alternative free from ideological baggage.
Beneath this veneer, however, lay Jacob’s strategic use of politics to shield his business interests. Kitex, a major exporter under his control, had faced repeated scrutiny from the LDF government, including inspections over labour and environmental compliance. Conflicts peaked in 2021 when Jacob publicly threatened to relocate operations to Telangana, citing harassment. Twenty20’s local victories provided him leverage, often blunting regulatory actions and building a protective buffer around his empire.
The cracks widened with the NDA alliance, a decision Jacob personally drove and announced. Framed by him as a step for Kerala’s economic progress and access to central schemes, he claimed overwhelming internal support. Yet, its timing—coinciding with intensified Enforcement Directorate (ED) inquiries into Kitex—fuelled widespread suspicion. Reports emerged of a FEMA case involving alleged irregular foreign fund transfers, with multiple summons issued since May 2025. Critics from the CPI(M) and Congress alleged Jacob’s pivot was a desperate bid for central protection, turning Twenty20 into a personal shield against accountability.
Jacob vehemently denied any link to the probes, dismissing accusations as “political sabotage” and insisting on routine compliance. But for many within the party he founded and funded, this alignment with the NDA contradicted the very foundation of Twenty20’s appeal: an independent fight against corruption across all major alliances, including the BJP.
The reaction was explosive. Within hours of Jacob’s announcement, dissent erupted. Senior leaders and elected representatives resigned en masse, protesting what they saw as his complete betrayal. One former member accused Twenty20 of becoming a “recruiting agency for the BJP.” In Ernakulam, a significant faction defected to the Congress, citing the alliance as an unforgivable U-turn orchestrated by Jacob. Protests broke out, with grassroots workers and supporters voicing anguish over his abandonment of anti-corruption ideals. Key figures who had built the party under his patronage went silent or distanced themselves, while others publicly lamented that Jacob had fooled those who believed in a genuine third front.
This exodus revealed the fragility of Twenty20’s base, which rested heavily on Jacob’s funding and vision. Many supporters had been drawn by the perception of a crusade against nepotism and graft in established parties. The subsidised welfare and village transformations, once symbols of his benevolence, now appeared as calculated tools to buy loyalty and construct a personal political fortress. When threats loomed, Jacob’s facade crumbled, prioritising business survival over public trust.
Will the respect once accorded to Sabu M. Jacob and his corporate-political experiment endure? The signs point firmly to no. The mass departures have hollowed out Twenty20’s organisational strength, reducing it to a marginal NDA ally in a state where the BJP has limited traction. Public discourse in Kerala, known for its political acuity, has increasingly branded Jacob’s shift as opportunism disguised as pragmatism. The earlier admiration for “model” initiatives is now tinged with cynicism, overshadowed by perceptions of greed masquerading as philanthropy.
This episode exemplifies the dangers of turncoats in politics—those who exploit public disillusionment for personal gain. Businessmen like Jacob enter the arena cloaked in reformist garb, amassing followers through targeted benevolence funded by their own coffers, only to realign when self-interest demands. In India, such figures—from industrialists seeking policy favours to regional players switching for power—fragment genuine movements and deepen voter apathy. They fool the public twice: first by promising change, then by revealing that commerce, not conviction, was the true driver.
In Kerala’s vibrant democratic landscape, Sabu M. Jacob’s unraveling of Twenty20 is particularly poignant. It serves as a reminder that true reformers withstand pressures without compromising core values. When activists unmask as opportunists, the loss is not just personal respect but faith in alternatives themselves. The garb of the crusader, once shed for selfish motives, is hard to don again.
