Kerala local body polls: LDF declares 70 candidates in battle for Kochi Corporation

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Wednesday (November 12, 2025) announced 70 candidates for the upcoming Kochi Corporation elections, with the district leadership pledging to transform Kochi into “the cleanest city in the country” if voted to power in the 76-member civic body.

The list included nine sitting councillors, 17 former members and seven candidates under the age of 40. The total representation of women, including in seats reserved for them, is about 56%, said S. Sathish, Ernakulam district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) at a press conference.

Discussions are on to finalise the candidates for six divisions that include Poonithura, Mattancherry, Girinagar, Kadavantra, Perumanoor and Panampilly Nagar. It will be announced soon, he said.

Eight seats have been allotted to the Communist Party of India (CPI), Kerala Congress (M) (3), Janata Dal (S) (2), Nationalist Congress Party (2), Congress (S) (1) and Indian National League (1). Four women candidates have been fielded in general seats that include Deepa Varma (Edappally); Sasikala. S (Ravipuram), Reshma Ramesh (Karippalam); and Sheela Mohanan (Ernakulam South), he said.

Mayoral posts

On the probable candidates for Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts, he said the Mayor and Deputy Mayor selections will be “unanimous” and it would be decided after the elections. “Unlike the United Democratic Front (UDF) which had faced internal squabbles over the Mayor post during its previous terms, the Left front will have only one candidate as its Mayor, and the person will remain in office for the next five years,” he said.

The district secretary, however, refused to comment on whether outgoing Mayor M. Anilkumar, who is not in the fray this time, will be considered for the Assembly election in 2026.

He rejected allegations by the Congress that the CPI(M) was making attempts to sneak in voters by submitting applications that use the same house number under different house names and forged rental agreements. “We doubt whether the Congress, which has claimed that it had added 20,000 new voters in the district, is behind such tactics,” he said.

Mr. Anilkumar listed the biomining of legacy waste at the Brahmapuram dumping yard as one of the key achievements of his term.

Asked about the 100-crore penalty imposed by the National Green Tribunal following the massive fire at the site in March 2023, he said that the remedial measures initiated after the incident, including the Compressed Biogas Plant project at Brahmapuram, has been successful.