The stage is set for a high-stakes political contest in the capital city of Kerala, with the election for the mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation scheduled for Friday. With no single party commanding a clear majority in the 101-member council, intense political manoeuvring has marked the final days leading up to the vote.
Coalitions Name Candidates Amid Uncertainty
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) have officially announced their candidates for the coveted mayor's post. The LDF has fielded R P Shivaji, the councillor from Punnakkamugal ward and a member of the CPM district committee. The party has also appointed S P Deepak (Pettah ward) as its parliamentary party leader and former mayor Sreekumar as the secretary.
On the other side, the UDF, after a parliamentary party meeting, decided to contest with K S Sabarinadhan, the councillor from Kowdiar ward, as its mayoral candidate. Sabarinadhan will also serve as the UDF's parliamentary party leader. Mary Pushpam, who won from Kunnukuzhy ward, will be the front's candidate for the deputy mayor's position.
NDA's Deliberations and the Independent Factor
All eyes, however, are on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which emerged as the single largest front in the recent local body elections but fell short of an absolute majority. The alliance requires the support of at least one independent councillor to cross the crucial mark of 51 seats.
As of Wednesday, the NDA had not finalized its mayoral candidate. BJP general secretary S Suresh stated that the announcement would be made on Thursday, following continuous meetings to build consensus. Party circles suggest the choice is likely between V V Rajesh and R Sreelakha, though a surprise candidate remains a possibility.
The suspense over the independent councillor's support took a significant turn when Pattoor Radhakrishnan, the independent councillor from Kannammoola ward, met with BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Chandrasekhar later publicly acknowledged and thanked Radhakrishnan for his support in a Facebook post, strongly indicating that the NDA is close to securing the numbers needed for a majority.
Election Schedule and Political Calculus
The mayoral election is set to be held at 10:30 am on Friday, followed by the election for the deputy mayor in the afternoon. Both the LDF and UDF have decided to enter the contest despite their numerical disadvantage, believing that abstaining would not be politically advantageous.
The political dynamics underscore a fragmented mandate where the role of independents becomes kingmaking. With just two independent councillors in the house, Pattoor Radhakrishnan's pledged support could tilt the balance decisively in favour of the NDA, potentially leading to a historic administration in the capital corporation.
