UDF mulls split terms for standing committee chiefs in Kochi Corporation

The United Democratic Front (UDF), which is poised to sweep all eight standing committees in the Kochi Corporation owing to its commanding majority in the council, will field senior councillors with considerable experience for the posts of chairpersons. Split terms for chairpersons are also likely, providing opportunities for more eligible councillors.

The election of standing committee members is scheduled for January 7. The election of chairpersons remains yet to be notified.

The UDF currently has 47 members, which may rise to 48 with the likely support of Independent councillor Bastin Babu of the Chullickal division. A former Congressman who contested as an Independent after rebelling against the party, Mr. Babu had earlier voted in favour of V.K. Minimol and Deepak Joy in the elections for Mayor and deputy mayor respectively. Even without his support, the UDF has sufficient numbers to secure a majority in all standing committees, thereby guaranteeing the posts of chairpersons.

Except for finance, development and welfare committees, each of which has 10 members, the remaining committees — health, works, town planning, tax appeal, and education and sports — will comprise nine members. The majority mark is six in the 10-member committees and five in the nine-member ones. By convention, the deputy mayor serves as chairperson of the finance committee.

“Consultations are under way in the UDF regarding the selection of candidates for chairperson posts. Except for one committee, which will go to the Indian Union Muslim League, the Congress will retain control of the remaining seven,” said Congress sources.

In the previous council, the LDF controlled six committees. The Bharatiya Janata Party briefly held the tax appeals committee, which, the LDF alleged, was made possible with tacit UDF support. By the end of the council’s term, however, the UDF had wrested control of that, finishing with two committees, the other being the works committee.

The works committee chairperson’s post had sparked infighting within the UDF after Sunitha Dixon of the Revolutionary Socialist Party, a UDF ally, refused to vacate the seat after her agreed term. She eventually stepped down under threat of an election petition, with the remaining tenure shared between Congress councillors V.K. Minimol and Seena Gokul.