After Congress’ initial ‘suspense’, Ravipuram division braces for high-stakes triangular contest

Kochi Corporation’s Ravipuram division was in the news even before the elections after the Congress tried to create an element of surprise by preventing the division from announcing its candidate.

Ravipuram was traditionally an impregnable stronghold of the party until councilor and independent candidate S. Sasikala breached it in 2020.

While Ms. Sasikala is once again in the fray as a CPI(M)-backed independent candidate, rumors have suggested that she is in talks with two-time councilor and former mayor Soumini Jain as a potential candidate of the Congress. Reportedly, Ms. Jain insisted on being given assurances that she would be re-elected mayor if the United Democratic Front (UDF) came back to power; This was a condition that the Congress leadership found difficult to accept, leading to an uneasy prolongation of tensions.

Finally, the District Congress Committee leadership introduced Antony Judy, who contested as a Twenty20 candidate against Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden in the last general elections. He was simultaneously given party membership and a ticket from Ravipuram. The decision to field someone who had previously opposed the party created discontent among some sections of the Congress and Youth Congress. By then, the National Democratic Alliance had fielded State Councilor CG Rajagopal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as its candidate.

“I am confident of victory based on the work I have done in the department over the past five years. The CPI(M) has also probably done this while supporting a non-party member as an independent in the general seat. I have published a pamphlet detailing development projects implemented in the department, which I would not have dared to do if I had doubts about convincing people,” says Ms. Sasikala, who unsuccessfully ran from the department in 2005.

He has been a Kathakali practitioner for the last 25 years and is scheduled to perform at the Vrischikolsavam festival on November 25, amidst his intense campaign. Ms. Sasikala has also acted in many popular movies like Sunday Holiday, Vijay Superum Pournamiyum and Prathi Poovankozhi. “Just like politics is pursued with honesty rather than ostentation, art brings you closer to people,” he says.

Mr. Judy believes that his biggest advantage is that he is a resident of the department, making it familiar to people. Despite his recent inauguration, he is confident that the Congress’s organizational machinery is firmly behind him and enjoys the support of both the Ernakulam MLA and MP. “My campaign is not based on promises. I tell people that I am one of them and that I will represent them honestly. I am confident that I will win their trust and the division,” says Mr. Judy.

However, the BJP claims that this time the real fight is between the LDF and its candidate and the UDF is out of the race. In the last election, the BJP candidate came close to victory, falling just 50 votes behind the eventual winner Ms. Sasikala and just 21 votes behind the runner-up CPI(M) candidate.

“The development in the division is uneven, with many colonies still neglected. The progress achieved has been largely through central funds like Cochin Smart Mission Limited, without which the Corporation would come to a standstill,” says Mr. Rajagopal, who believes that being the Assembly candidate of the BJP in the Parliamentary and Assembly elections has given him the added advantage of being a familiar face.

The division was expanded post delimitation to include parts of Perumanur and Ernakulam South divisions with a voter base of around 4,500.