The three major fronts—Left Democratic Front (LDF), United Democratic Front (UDF), and National Democratic Alliance (NDA)—have reached broad understandings on seat-sharing for the Kochi Corporation local body polls, with only minor details pending. The UDF launched its bid to reclaim the corporation by releasing a 'chargesheet' against the LDF's five-year governance. Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan accused the LDF of turning the city into a 'living hell'.
Preparations for the local body elections in Kochi Corporation's 76 wards are intensifying. Within the LDF, the CPI will contest eight seats, Kerala Congress (Mani) three, Nationalist Congress Party and Janata Dal two each, and Indian National League one. The remaining seats will largely go to the CPI(M), though an internal settlement is needed for three divisions in West Kochi. This arrangement is similar to 2020, with no talks held with the CPI(ML). The CPI(M) and CPI concluded discussions cordially, allowing the CPI to switch to Thrikkanarvattom and Girinagar divisions instead of Pachalam and Ayyappankkavu. The LDF plans to field experienced candidates.
In the UDF, the Indian Union Muslim League will contest seven seats, Kerala Congress (Joseph) three, and Revolutionary Socialist Party one. The Communist Marxist Party's claim for one seat is under discussion, with Congress taking the rest. The NDA will finalize its arrangement at a meeting with Union Minister of State George Kurian, and possibly BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar. A decision is expected on Bharath Dharma Jana Sena's claim for 10 seats, the same as last time, with one seat each possibly to Kerala Congress (Nationalist), Nationalist Congress Party, and Shiv Sena.
On Friday, the UDF launched a frontal attack on the LDF by releasing a 'chargesheet' against its five-year tenure. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the LDF had turned the city into a 'living hell' by neglecting mosquito eradication, waterlogging, and waste management. He claimed the Oommen Chandy government designed waterlogging projects, while the LDF's Operation Breakthrough was a failure. The CPI(M) is usurping credit for the new headquarters, allotted for ₹1 lakh under Chandy and started under Minister K. Babu, and the Cochin Smart City project worth ₹20,000 crore secured during Tony Chammany's mayoral term. The UDF highlighted initiatives like the Kaloor stadium, Kochi metro, airport, and Goshree bridges. Satheesan asserted the UDF would reclaim the corporation, implement coastal shipping, expand beyond Greater Kochi, and target a 400-fold tax revenue increase. District Congress president Muhammed Shiyas presided, with MPs Hibi Eden and Jebi Mather, and MLAs K. Babu, T.J. Vinod, Uma Thomas, and Anwar Sadat present.