Morning tea and political discussions go hand in hand in Kerala.
Long before "chai pe charcha" became a political symbol in India, it had been a way of life for the common man in Kerala. A hot cup of tea and newspapers -- that's how every day begins in Kerala.
"If people in Kerala don't get their newspaper in the morning, they have "withdrawal symptoms," said Santosh, a newspaper vendor.
Hot news goes better with hot food. At a breakfast vendor in Thiruvananthapuram's Palayam area, newspapers are on the house.
Indira, 62, makes a dozen dosas in five minutes. Her customers consume them equally fast. But the political discussion, she says, can go on for hours.
But more than Prime Minister Narendra Modi or national politics, the people's concern at the moment is price rise, she added. But that is not the case everywhere. For many, the upcoming local body election is a top-of-mind issue.
"Whether it is LDF or UDF, people remember and discuss the promises we make during elections," said Palayam Ward councillor P Rajan. "Everybody here questions us and we are answerable".
The elections are on the mind of the councillor too - the Kerala Legislative Assembly was to elect its three representatives for Rajya Sabha today.
The CPM - which traditionally had a huge support base in Kerala - is hopeful of a fresh start following the election of Sitaram Yechury as its general secretary.
A stone's throw from a garbage dump by the roadside, a group of drivers said they would vote for the upcoming local body elections only on the basis of issues and records of promises made in the past.
Sipping his tea, S Sadasivam, an auto driver, said, "I was a Congress supporter originally, then moved towards the Communists... Now I will have to see what they offer before I decide whom to vote for. I follow news closely".