High-pitched campaign for local body polls ends in Ernakulam

Claims and counterclaims by political fronts over development have taken the centre stage in the district as public campaigning for the local body polls came to an end on Sunday (December 7, 2025). The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) capped its high-pitch campaign on Sunday, reasserting its image as a champion of development and welfare both at the State and local level, while the Congress-led United democratic Front (UDF) sought to dispel the claims by invoking the initiatives taken under its rule. The public campaign for the polls ended on Sunday with voting slated for Tuesday (December 9, 2025).

The mainstream poll narrative in the district got fillip with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s recent campaign speech in the city in which he listed the achievements of his government and the Kochi Corporation.

LDF supporters dance during the finale.
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT

The Congress leadership has responded to the claims terming them far from reality. “Even the Chief Minister did not have anything to say in Kochi other than making tall claims about projects they did not implement. His desperation to take credit for projects implemented during the UDF rule was evident,” District Congress Committee (DCC) president Mohammed Shiyas said.

CPI(M) district secretary S. Sathish said that the Congress’ reaction to the Chief Minister’s speech stemmed from realising the ground reality which was in favour of the Left front. “Throughout the campaign, we could present the development and welfare measures implemented in the past nine years of Left rule. There is an overwhelming feeling that the LDF should continue in power,” he added.

UDF workers take out a bike rally.
| Photo Credit:
H. VIBHU

Amid the tit-for-tat, both the fronts have exuded confidence that they would increase their tally in the local bodies in the district. The Congress leaders said the organisational machinery has worked on the ground in an unprecedented manner and the works, including adding thousands of new voters, will pay off, despite admitting rebel threat at least in a couple of wards. The LDF’s key strategy at the panchayat level was to present the voters with a comparison of the development and welfare works carried out in the local bodies it ruled and those run by the UDF. The UDF has also highlighted the allegations against the LDF government including the ongoing Sabarimala gold theft row even as maintaining that the sexual misconduct charges against expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil will not have an impact in the polls.

Though the UDF is confident of retaining Ernakulam district panchayat, it was yet to overcome the shock of the nomination fiasco in Kadamakudy division. The Congress, sources said, will instruct its cadre to stay away from voting in the division as there is no ‘NOTA’ option in the local body polls.

BJP activist carries the party flag during the closing event.
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT

The BJP has run its campaign riding on the development and welfare claims of the Narendra Modi-led Central government. “People want the Central government schemes implemented at the grassroots level. That sentiment will reflect in the polls. In Kochi Corporation, NDA will either emerge the ruling front or force the LDF and UDF to forge a tie-up, winning a decisive number,” K.S. Shyju, BJP district president (Ernakulam city) said.