Kerala local body polls: A litmus test for LDF governance, UDF revival in Ernakulam

It is nothing short of a battle of prestige for both the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Ernakulam as local bodies in the district inch closer towards voting.

For both the major fronts, increasing their tally in the local bodies in the district is crucial as the results could be crucial in setting the political narrative ahead of the Assembly elections due in months.

A traditional Congress bastion, Ernakulam sided with the UDF in the 2020 local body polls even amid what looked like a Left wave, though it could not retain the crucial Kochi Corporation. The major challenge for the UDF, hence, this time is to wrest the Corporation at any cost. That the district is the home turf of Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, who is also overseeing the UDF campaign in the Kochi Corporation, makes it all the more important, amounting to a do-or-die battle, for the Opposition front. For the LDF, retaining the Corporation should be the key as it could be interpreted not just as a validation of its governance both in the State and the local body, but also as a big question on Mr. Satheesan’s perceived election management skills.

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| Photo Credit:
TH

Ironic scenario

The political landscape of local bodies in Ernakulam presents an ironic scenario. While the UDF is ruling most of the local bodies, the LDF has the maximum number of elected representatives in grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities, the Corporation, and district panchayat. The Left front has 814 representatives in the district as against the UDF’s 809. The UDF won the Ernakulam district panchayat in 2020, winning 16 (Congress – 15, Kerala Congress – 1) wards against LDF’s nine (CPI(M) – six, CPI – three).

Among the 13 municipalities in the district, the UDF is in power in nine while the LDF is restricted to four. The LDF suffered a jolt as the UDF added the Koothattukulam municipality to its kitty earlier this year after a CPI(M) councillor switched side. In block panchayats, the two major fronts seem to have an equal footing with the LDF ruling seven and the UDF one. Both the alliances have felt the heat of the Kitex Group-backed Twenty20 in the Vadavukode block panchayat.

The Twenty20 is also ruling four grama panchayats while the UDF has a clear upper hand with power in 48 of the 82 grama panchayats in the district. The LDF governs 30.

Welfare measures

The UDF is hoping to increase the tally this time, trying to cash in on the perceived anti-incumbency sentiments against the State government in both the hilly regions and coastal belt over a slew of concerns while the LDF is confident that its welfare measures, including hike in social justice pensions and extreme poverty alleviation measures, would help it win more support at the grassroots.

The BJP has won only 100 seats in the district across local bodies in 2020, less than the CPI’s 107. The saffron party is counting on at least five grama panchayats this time, apart from emerging a decisive force in several others.