All three major fronts have more or less concluded their seat-sharing discussions for the Kochi Corporation, with broad understandings reached and only last-minute nitty-gritty remaining to be addressed.
As per an understanding reached within the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which is yet to be officially announced, the CPI will contest eight seats, Kerala Congress (Mani) three, Nationalist Congress Party and Janata Dal two seats each, and Indian National League one seat. The remaining seats out of the total 76 will largely be left to the CPI(M), though internal settlement is needed regarding three divisions in West Kochi considered sure bets for the party. Talks have not been held with the CPI(ML). The seat-sharing arrangement is more or less similar to that of 2020.
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Despite the stand-off between the two parties in various local bodies in Ernakulam, the CPI(M) and the CPI have managed to conclude their seat-sharing discussions for the Corporation in a rather cordial manner. In fact, the CPI was allowed to switch at least two wards where it had been unable to make significant inroads over the years and has been allotted Thrikkanarvattom and Girinagar divisions instead of Pachalam and Ayyappankkavu. While LDF candidates are yet to be finalised, the broader plan is to field an experienced line-up of candidates with prior experience as councillors.
