Fronts trade barbs, claim big gains in Kochi on poll eve

On the eve of the local body polls, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) remained confident of retaining power in the Kochi Corporation with a much-improved mandate, while the United Democratic Front (UDF) is equally confident of wresting power with a historic mandate, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of taking its tally to double digits.

After a decade of UDF rule, the LDF came to power as the single largest bloc, albeit without a simple majority, in 2020. In the 74-member council, the LDF won 34 seats, the UDF 31, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 5, while five independents also made it. The Corporation witnessed a polling percentage of 62.04 in 2020, which was a drop from 69.62 five years before.

“We ran a completely positive campaign based on a development agenda, whereas the UDF ran a negative campaign. There was unprecedented unity in the LDF, and we managed to complete the selection of candidates without any hiccups. We wrapped up the campaign based on our well-thought-out manifesto. The UDF is facing rebels in at least 19 divisions, and the unholy nexus with the BJP will repel even its traditional supporters,” alleged M. Anilkumar, the general convener of the LDF election committee.

He said that distributing the leaflet listing the LDF governing committee’s achievements over the past five years to households even before the election was notified gave the front a head start. Mr. Anilkumar also accused the UDF of resorting to low tactics by circulating an AI-generated defamatory video of the Chief Minister through social media.

District Congress Committee president Muhammed Shiyas dismissed the development narrative, alleging that the last five years were “lost years” for Kochi city, which witnessed only corruption, an anti-development outlook, and mismanagement despite an LDF government being in power. He said the much-touted compressed biogas plant was a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and not funded by the government.

“The State government and the LDF have used Kochi Corporation solely for corruption, including the ₹154 crore being splurged on biomining. The Corporation must come clean on the ₹16 crore it spent on dousing the Brahmapuram fire (in 2023) and the ₹1 crore used for covering the ashes with tarpaulin during the monsoon, despite which Kadamprayar was polluted with ashes. This was in addition to the ₹12 crore wasted through awarding the biomining contract at Brahmapuram to Zonta Infratech Private Limited,” Mr. Shiyas alleged.

He said the UDF faced real challenges from rebels only in a couple of divisions. Unlike in the past, all 76 division committees were firmly backing UDF candidates since the names they suggested were chosen rather than those imposed by individual leaders. “We will wrest back power with a historic mandate,” Mr. Shiyas said.

K.S. Shaiju, BJP City District Committee president, said the party would improve its tally to double digits as people were aspiring for a change that matched their expectations of development. Asked about its ally Bharath Dharma Jana Sena returning a few seats originally allocated to it, he said the party had taken back only two seats — Panayappilly and Karanakkodam — on winnability grounds.

The NDA has no candidate in four divisions. However, Mr. Shaiju downplayed this, claiming the party had made focused efforts in divisions within its sphere of dominance, such as Edappally and Kochi Central. “We have carried out a campaign in divisions where we have an advantage to ensure we cash in, and we will also ensure that not a single vote in favour of the party goes without being cast,” he said.