Keen contest in Ward 11 of Kalamassery municipality

Ward 11 in Kalamassery municipality is witnessing an interesting contest this time.

Seema Kannan, outgoing chairperson of the Congress, is taking on Sheeba Babu of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in a straight contest between the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not part of the battle, as the nomination of its candidate was rejected for not submitting the statement of expenditure of the local body election in 2020, in which she was a candidate.

UDF candidate Seema Kannan during her campaign in Ward 11 of Kalamassery municipality.
| Photo Credit:
H. VIBHU

Ms. Kannan exuded confidence in overcoming any chances of anti-incumbency as the UDF has been in power in the municipality for nearly three decades. “The UDF was able to improve infrastructure facilities in the municipality,” she claimed.

She had assumed the post of chairperson in a dramatic turn of events in 2020 after the UDF and the LDF were tied at 20 seats each in the 42-member council. She was chosen through a draw of lots as the UDF came to power amid a wafer-thin majority with the support of Independents. She had survived a no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition in December 2022 for want of the required number of votes to oust her.

Ms. Babu, who is the local committee member of the CPI, said she remained hopeful of securing a win this time. She added that the work done by the LDF in the ward, along with the development projects initiated by the State government, would impact the final outcome. “We have been highlighting the development plank in the campaign,” she said.

The BJP suffered a setback after the nomination of its candidate, Prajeela Suresh, was rejected during scrutiny on the grounds that she did not submit the statement of expenditure of the previous election. The party had faced a similar situation in Ward 1 after the nomination of its candidate, Dilsha Biju, was rejected, after it was found that the person who had seconded her candidature was a voter outside the division.