After day-long consultations at various levels of both the Communsit Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Friday, the dispute between the two parties over the right to contest two wards was amicably settled, averting a threat to the unity of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Thrikkakara municipality.
On Thursday, the CPI had unilaterally declared candidates for four wards, accusing the CPI(M) of laying claim to two wards—Sahakarana Road and Health Centre—by encroaching on areas of its influence. It was finally agreed that the CPI would contest the Sahakarana Road ward and relinquish the Health Centre ward to the CPI(M). Additionally, the CPI has been allotted an extra seat, the Infopark ward. Thus, the party will now contest in seven wards compared to six in the previous election.
Talks were held at the State, district and local levels, both over phone and in person, throughout the day before a settlement was reached. With the imbroglio resolved, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will announce all candidates for the 48 seats of Thrikkakara municipality on Saturday. Apart from the seven seats of the CPI, the other LDF constituents — RJD, NCP,and KC(S) — will contest in a seat each. The CPI(M) will contest in the remaining 38 seats.
The two LDF constituents had been at odds over the two wards, effectively stalling seat-sharing discussions in the municipality, which has traditionally been a United Democratic Front (UDF) stronghold. While the CPI claimed that these wards fell within its sphere of influence, the CPI(M) insisted on contesting in them based on winnability. Although the CPI(M) offered two alternative seats, the CPI argued that it had no viable chance in those wards. In the last election, the CPI had won two of the six seats it had contested in — Athani and Snehanilayam.
The CPI’s argument was that, following delimitation, a majority of votes from the Athani ward—considered its traditional stronghold—had shifted to the Health Centre ward, giving it a legitimate claim. In the case of Sahakarana Road, which absorbed the Mampillyparambu ward following delimitation, the CPI maintained that its entire vote base from the now-defunct ward had been merged into Sahakarana Road, entitling it to field a candidate there.
Even while unilaterally declaring candidates on Thursday, the CPI had left the door open for reconciliation, clarifying that fracturing LDF unity was not its agenda, and that it would revisit its decision if a resolution could be reached.
Published – November 14, 2025 10:06 pm IST
