UDF announces Sabarinadhan as Mayor candidate in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, BJP remains undecided

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the largest party in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, continues to maintain doubts about the Mayor candidate, the United Democratic Front (UDF) on Wednesday declared KS Sabarinadhan as its candidate. The former Congress MLA had won the recently held local body elections from Kowdiar constituency by a narrow margin. ‘

UDF will also nominate Mary Pushpam, who has served as a councilor for the last few terms, for the post of Deputy Mayor. The Front performed better this time, winning 19 seats and reversing the downward trend seen in the previous two elections. However, considering the numbers in the 101-member council, the Mayoral fight will be largely symbolic.

Two days ago, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) had decided to nominate RP Sivaji, long-time councilor and Vilappil district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), for the post of Mayor. LDF’s seat count dropped from 51 seats in 2020 to 29 seats this year. However, the failure of the BJP to gain a majority seems to have led to the front contesting the Mayor election.

The BJP, which held a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, seemed hesitant to announce its candidate even two days before the Mayoral election on Friday. Former district president VV Rajesh, three-time councilor Karamana Ajith and former Director General of Police R. Sreelekha are in contention.

Despite securing a historic victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in the local body elections, the BJP still fell one seat short of the required majority of 51 in the 101-member council. He kept his options open for the two Independent candidates who won in Kannammoola and Poundkadavu districts.