In a historic first, BJP takes charge of Tripunithura municipality

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) P.L. Babu has been elected chairperson of the Tripunithura municipality, thus marking the first time the party has come into power in a municipality in Ernakulam district.

Mr. Babu was elected chairperson after two rounds of voting, as the 53-member municipality returned a hung verdict. The BJP-led NDA emerged as the single largest bloc with 21 seats, followed by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) with 20, and the United Democratic Front (UDF) with 12.

In the first round, K.T. Akhiladas of the LDF and C.A. Shaji of the UDF were also in the fray, with all three candidates securing votes corresponding to their respective seat shares. Since no candidate achieved the simple majority of 27 votes, a second round of voting became inevitable, from which the UDF abstained. Mr. Babu again polled 21 votes, while Mr. Akhiladas received only 18, as two votes—that of CPI(M)’s vice-chairperson candidate Bindu Shailendran and O.K. Hariharan—were declared invalid.

Radhika Varma was elected vice-chairperson in the election held later in the afternoon.

For Mr. Babu, who represents the Valiyathara ward, this marks his second stint as councillor, while Ms. Varma, elected from the Ambalam ward, is a three-time councillor. Mr. Babu currently serves as general secretary of the BJP central zone, and Ms. Varma is a member of the BJP State Council.

Had the LDF and UDF joined hands, they could have prevented the BJP from taking charge. However, both chose to field candidates in the elections for the posts of chairperson and vice-chairperson. The LDF has traditionally been the dominant force in Tripunithura since its formation in 1978 and had secured a simple majority in the last election as well.

The BJP’s growth in the temple town has been rapid. After opening its account in the municipality with a single seat in 2010, the tally rose to 13 five years later, when it dislodged the UDF as the principal Opposition. In 2020, the party further improved its tally to 15 before adding two more seats in mid-term by-elections.