Four local body wards in Ernakulam district, including a Corporation ward, are set for by-elections on Monday (September 28, 2026). Ayyappankavu division (19) of Kochi Corporation, Kolencherry East ward (8) of Poothrukka grama panchayat, Puliyanam South (4) of Parakkadavu panchayat and Madaplathuruth (9) of Vadakkekara panchayat are among the 38 local body wards in the State where by-elections are scheduled.
A total of 10,003 voters are expected to cast their votes in the interim polls necessitated for various reasons. Notably, the Vadakkekara panchayat falls in the North Paravur Assembly constituency represented by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.
The by-election in Ayyappankavu was necessitated following the election of Congress’ Deepak Joy, who was the deputy mayor of Kochi Corporation, as Thripunithura MLA. The United Democratic Front (UDF) has fielded A.K. Ajithkumar to retain the seat, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expecting an upset with the candidature of P.K. Usman. K.V. Bijoy is the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate.
In Poothrikka panchayat, the UDF has fielded Saramma Paily Pillai against LDF’s Neethu Joyd and Twenty20’s Deenamma Jacob. The by-election in Kolencherry East ward was necessitated following the resignation of Twenty20’s Pooja Jomon, who was also the Panchayat president, in protest against her party’s decision to join the NDA. Notably, Twenty20 is contesting the by-election not under the NDA banner, in what the alliance leaders claim to be a tactical move to retain its core vote base.
The candidates in Puliyanam East Ward of Parakkadavu Panchayat are Mallika Ravi (UDF), Sugandhi Joshi (LDF) and Sandra Subrahmanian (NDA). The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of LDF’s Raji Rajeev after getting a job overseas. Similarly, the resignation of UDF’s Sebi Puthenveettil after getting a job abroad has forced the Madaplathuruth ward of Vadakekara panchayat into the bypoll.
The by-election results are unlikely to affect the power equation in the local bodies. While the UDF is ruling the Kochi Corporation, Poothrikka and Parakkadavu panchayats, the LDF is in power in Vadakkekara. The results of the by-elections will be declared on September 29.
Published – September 27, 2026 12:11 pm IST
