Surprise omissions, rising rebels shake up Congress campaign in Kochi

While the Congress party’s decision to halt candidate announcements for two divisions – Cheralayi and Ravipuram – has set the rumor mill in motion, the party now faces the prospect of its first potential rebel candidacy this election season in Girinagar.

Six-time opposition BJP councilor Shyamala S. Prabhu’s name has been doing the rounds in connection with Cheralayi, which she represented from the late 1980s to 2020. However, Ms Prabhu, who announced her decision to contest as an Independent after being excluded from the BJP’s initial list announced on Wednesday, denied any association with the UDF.

“Earlier, a few members of UDF had floated this idea, which I flatly rejected. I have no idea who spread these rumours. My decision to contest as an Independent without the support of any political front has not changed,” Ms. Prabhu said. Despite assurances from the BJP leadership that his claim would be considered positively, he ultimately stood aside as the party opted for another candidate from the region in its first list.

Ms Prabhu said the party did not even have the courtesy to inform her about the decision. The veteran leader held a meeting with close colleagues at his home on Thursday evening to formally communicate his decision to run as an Independent and get their feedback.

However, sources in the District Congress Committee stated that such a move is already being worked on and has been approached.

In Ravipuram district, Congress reportedly held talks with former Mayor Soumini Jain. He represented the ward where he had disagreements with the party during his tumultuous tenure as mayor from 2015 to 2020. He is reportedly reluctant to run solely as a council member because he has served as Mayor. He wants assurances from the party that he will be nominated as Mayor if the United Democratic Front wins a majority. It may not be easy for the party to offer such a guarantee when there are many experienced female candidates in the fight.

Meanwhile, Girinagar councilor Malini Kurup raised the flag of rebellion after being ostracized. The three-time councilor has announced his intention to contest as an Independent from the district, possibly with the support of the Communist Party of India. “The party doesn’t seem to want people working on the ground, instead choosing someone who has lost twice before,” Ms Kurup said. He also accused the leadership of religious appeasement by opting for a Christian candidate in Girinagar, a Hindu-majority district.

Congress councilor from Devankulangara, Santha Vijayan, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after receiving party membership from senior leader MT Ramesh at an event held in Thripunithura on Thursday evening. Shortly after he switched sides, DCC president Muhammad Shiyas expelled him from the party.