A high-stakes electoral combat is brewing in the Kozhikode Corporation for the civic body elections on December 11, over a year after the city was bestowed India’s first UNESCO City of Literature title.
Nevertheless, the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) is leveraging this status in the political arena, employing the achievement even as a counter to the anti-incumbency narratives of the rival Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
An additional division has been created this time, taking the council strength from 75 to 76, and prompting all three fronts to fine-tune their strategies ward by ward in the tightly contested urban landscape.
Buoyed by its long-standing grip over the corporation for around 45 years, the LDF enters the race with a clear advantage: they represent four assembly constituencies in the city, and two of their representatives are State Ministers.
Despite Congress leader M.K. Raghavan being elected four times as an MP from the region and scoring well even in the traditional Left divisions, the UDF has been unable to get a foothold in the council. The closest was in 2010 when it won 34 divisions, which would have been counted a victory had it not been for the delimitation that took place just before the election, adding the erstwhile Elathur, Cheruvannur and Beypore grama panchayats to the Corporation. Since then, the UDF tally has come down to 20 (2015) and 17 (2020).
Now, the UDF sees this election as an opportunity to break the dominance of Left parties while the BJP, which currently has seven members, aims to expand its own limited bases.
LDF’s achievements
The LDF is confident that the council’s achievements in the sectors of waste management, welfare and health will help the coalition take the wind out of UDF’s sails. A major campaign point it highlights is Kozhikode’s jump from rank 367 to 70 in the Swachh Survekshan, thanks to the implementation of ‘AZHAK’, a comprehensive hygiene protocol, besides winning the Vayo Sevana Award for its welfare activities for senior citizens and ultimately the Swaraj Trophy for the best corporation in Kerala.
UDF’s comeback hopes
On the other hand, the UDF thinks a comeback is possible, especially after the building number scam that shook the corporation in 2022 which involved the misuse of employee login credentials for the Sanchaya software. It has been highlighting the council’s involvement in the scam, since the investigation is still ongoing, while the council has been passively supporting the culprits by arranging for them to join back in service, despite their arrests and proof of corruption. The Congress-IUML combine has also alleged the use of fake documents and seals to obtain trade licences and birth certificates, with allegations that middlemen are involved.
Candidates
The three major fronts have chosen their candidates well, bringing in a heady mix of freshness and experience. These include business people, retired government employees, private-sector workers, co-operative sector functionaries, self-employed professionals and local party leaders.
The unreserved status of the Mayor’s post this time has freed mainstream parties from quota constraints and allowed them to consider a wider pool of aspirants, including seasoned councillors. With the mayoral seat open, the names of CPI(M) leader and deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed on the LDF side and KPCC general secretary P.M. Niyas in the UDF have been widely discussed during electioneering.
The Congress party was embarrassed into a defensive posture when its projected mayoral candidate, filmmaker V.M. Vinu, was ruled out because his name was found missing from the electoral roll and his legal challenge failed.
As for the BJP, it has pitched itself as a practical alternative on themes such as efficient tax collection, transparent tendering and improved basic amenities in divisions where the party believes voter fatigue with both the LDF and UDF can be harnessed.
Published – November 29, 2025 08:50 am IST
