Kerala local body polls: UDF storms Kochi Corporation; LDF routed as Congress-led front nearly matches its previous best

The United Democratic Front (UDF) achieved a historic victory by returning to power in the Kochi Corporation with 47 seats, just as it had claimed before the counting; This was well above the magic number of 39 in the 76-member council, just one short of his best-ever victory in civil society in 2010.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) won only 22 seats, including the two independents it supported; this number was worse than the 24 seats in 2010. Despite the claim that it would reach double digits in this election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to increase its seat count by only one seat to six. Although the BJP contested as part of the National Democratic Alliance, all its allies, including the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, remained vacant.

If Congress rebel Bastin Babu, who won as an independent from Chullickal division, returns to the party, UDF’s final tally will once again touch the historic figure of 48. VP Chandran, who won on a CPI(M) ticket from the old Champakkara division in 2015, won as a UDF-backed independent this time.

No front won a simple majority in the 2020 primary elections, when the corporation had only 74 divisions. While CPI(M) emerged as the largest bloc with 34 seats, UDF won 31 and BJP won five seats. CPI(M) managed to capture power with the support of two independents.

The post of Mayor is reserved for women this term too and all UDF’s potential mayoral candidates – Deepthy Mary Varghese, VK Minimol and Shiny Mathew – won. This could pose a challenge for the front as discussions begin on the selection of the mayoral candidate. The UDF has consistently stated that the parliamentary caucus will choose the candidate, but this may be easier said than done.

LDF had accused the UDF of having an unholy tie with the BJP in four divisions – Elamakkara South, Kaloor North, Kunnumpuram and Ponnurunni East. Interestingly, UDF and LDF shared two seats each; Elamakkara South and Kaloor North went to UDF and LDF won the other two.

Among the prominent losers were LDF candidate Deepa Varma from Edappally division; If the front had won, he was the person who could be considered for the mayoral post. Sunitha Dixon, who defected to the BJP after winning twice as a UDF candidate and later as an independent, finished third behind CPI(M) winner Beena Divakaran and UDF candidate Jain Gray. Three-time Congress councilor Malini Kurup from Girinagar, who contested as an independent after being denied party membership, also finished third behind Congress winner PD Martin and BJP candidate TP Sindhumol.

UDF candidate Antony Kureethara, who served as Opposition leader in the last council, lost to BJP’s T. Padmakumari in the North Island segment. Incidentally, his defeat was the first result declared in the Company.