Kerala Power Crisis Spurs Protest Through Mobile Games by DYFI

As Keralam grapples with an ongoing power crisis and erratic curbs, youth organisations of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have turned to interactive digital formats to register their protest. Two web-based games, Indira Cut and Pookki.online, have gained traction online in recent weeks, offering a playful take on the disruptions faced by households across the State.

Indira Cut, developed by Palakkad-based Favas Kinan for the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) Palakkad District Committee, was released on September 13, 2026. The game has recorded over 9,52,000 unique players, according to Mr. Kinan, who is also the DYFI Professional Subcommittee Palakkad convener. In the game, players must swat as many mosquitoes as possible before the insects fall into a flickering candle. Keeping the candle lit is essential to continue playing and accumulate more points.

Pookki.online, co-created by New Zealand-based Sikhin S. and Mr. Kinan, was released a day later on September 14 and has received over 20,000 site views. The game hides a candle and a match separately behind two tiles in a 56-tile grid. Players must locate both within 18 seconds before the power goes out, with high scores awarded based on speed.

The titles take aim at the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government and Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. Indira Cut references the "Indira Guarantee", the five welfare promises made by the UDF during the 2026 Kerala State Assembly election campaign, while Pookki.online draws on an internet moniker given to Mr. Satheesan.

Mr. Sikhin, a member of the DYFI Ernakulam District Committee, said the idea emerged from recent discussions and frustration surrounding power cuts in Keralam. He noted that games are an easy and engaging way to communicate an idea, and that turning the situation into a simple interactive experience was preferable to creating another regular poster or social media post. He added that the intention was to use humour and interaction to reflect something people are currently experiencing in their everyday life, making the message more memorable when players immediately relate the concept to the real situation.