NDA poised to rule Thripunithura as LDF, UDF rule out tie-up

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is all set to seize power in Thripunithura on the strength of being the single largest bloc, albeit without a simple majority, after the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF), which emerged second and third respectively, ruled out any potential joining of hands to keep the saffron party at bay.

The election threw up a hung verdict in the 53-member municipality, with the NDA bagging 21 seats to the LDF’s 20 and the UDF’s 12 seats. While the verdict proved a setback for the LDF, which was in power and had dominated the municipality since its formation in 1978, for the BJP it marked the zenith of its growing influence in the temple town.

“Our candidates will contest the election for the chairperson and vice chairperson posts and will rule the municipality. We do not see the rival fronts coming together against us. If they put up a common candidate, we will expose them before the electorate,” said K.S. Shaiju, BJP city district president. The parliamentary party of the NDA will meet on Tuesday and recommend chairperson and deputy chairperson candidates for approval by the State leadership before announcing the names on Wednesday.

Both the LDF and the UDF said they would also field separate candidates in the election to the chairperson and deputy chairperson posts. CPI(M) district secretary S. Satish ruled out any truck with the Congress or the UDF.

Ernakulam District Congress Committee president Muhammed Shiyas accused the LDF of conceding seats considered CPI(M) bastions to the NDA. “There is no point in joining hands with the LDF, which will be difficult to explain to the public. We have decided to field candidates rather than stay away from the election of chairperson and deputy chairperson,” he said.

The BJP opened its account in the municipality in 2010 with a single seat before increasing the number to 13 to dislodge the UDF as the principal opposition in 2015. Five years later, it further improved the tally to 15 before adding two more seats in mid-term by-elections.