CPI likely to stake claim for chairperson post in Eloor municipality

The Communist Party of India (CPI) is likely to stake claim for the post of chairperson in Eloor municipality where the Left Democratic Front (LDF) emerged as the single largest front amid the sweep by the United Democratic Front (UDF) across municipalities in Ernakulam in the local body polls.

The LDF won 15 seats, while the UDF secured victory in 12 wards. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won five wards in the 32-member civic body. Of the 15 seats won by the LDF, four belonged to the CPI. The frontrunners for the post of chairperson in the CPI included Jayasree Sathish and Leela Babu. Both had served as deputy chairperson for an equal term in the previous council, according to party sources. The CPI had implemented a similar plan when it came to power in the civic body in the elections held in 2015.

Ms. Satheesh won from the Elanjikkal ward with a majority of 39 votes. Ms. Babu won from the Hostel ward with a majority of 435 votes. However, CPI(M) sources said it was too early to comment on the probable candidates as talks were yet to achieve a concrete shape. The probable candidates of the CPI(M) include Tisha Venu and Laiji Sajeevan. Ms. Venu won from the Pattupurackal ward with a majority of 270 votes, while Ms. Sajeevan secured victory in the Eloor depot ward with a majority of 54 votes.

The UDF was hopeful of making it through in the final leg, though it fell short of the half-way mark. The rebel menace had impacted its chances in a few wards. In Ward 22, the front candidate lost by two votes to the LDF candidate. The UDF was able to improve its performance this time as it had only seven seats in the previous council. The NDA’s tally came down to five this time compared to the six seats it had won in 2020.