Local body polls: three fronts reach broad understanding over seat-sharing in Kochi Corporation

All three major fronts have more or less concluded their seat-sharing discussions for the Kochi Corporation, with broad understandings reached and only last-minute nitty-gritty remaining to be addressed.

As per an understanding reached within the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which is yet to be officially announced, the CPI will contest eight seats, Kerala Congress (Mani) three, Nationalist Congress Party and Janata Dal two seats each, and Indian National League one seat. The remaining seats out of the total 76 will largely be left to the CPI(M), though internal settlement is needed regarding three divisions in West Kochi considered sure bets for the party. Talks have not been held with the CPI(ML). The seat-sharing arrangement is more or less similar to that of 2020.

Despite the stand-off between the two parties in various local bodies in Ernakulam, the CPI(M) and the CPI have managed to conclude their seat-sharing discussions for the Corporation in a rather cordial manner. In fact, the CPI was allowed to switch at least two wards where it had been unable to make significant inroads over the years and has been allotted Thrikkanarvattom and Girinagar divisions instead of Pachalam and Ayyappankkavu. While LDF candidates are yet to be finalised, the broader plan is to field an experienced line-up of candidates with prior experience as councillors.

In the United Democratic Front, it has been decided that the Indian Union Muslim League will contest seven seats, Kerala Congress (Joseph) three, and Revolutionary Socialist Party one. A claim for one seat by the Communist Marxist Party is under discussion. The Congress will contest the remaining seats.

The National Democratic Alliance will finalise its seat-sharing arrangement at a meeting to be held in the presence of Union Minister of State George Kurian, who has been assigned charge of election management for the Corporation. BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is also likely to attend.

The meeting is expected to decide on the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena’s claim over 10 seats, the same number it contested last time. One seat each may be allotted to the Kerala Congress (Nationalist), Nationalist Congress Party, and the Shiv Sena.