Though the Left Democratic Front’s drubbing in the Kochi Corporation in the local body elections was near total, the impact was not uniform across the four CPI(M) area committee limits within the civic body. The front performed relatively better in certain pockets and far worse in others.
The strike rate of the LDF was particularly poor in divisions under the Thrikkakara and Ernakulam area committees, where it managed to win only two of the 19 divisions and four of the 25 divisions respectively. The lone silver lining was the Palluruthy area committee, where the LDF secured nine of the 11 divisions. Though not as strong, seven of the 21 divisions under the Kochi area committee also returned LDF candidates.
LDF sources said that while an anti-government wave was the overriding factor behind the setback, the differential nature of the verdict suggests that the failure of the local leadership to communicate the achievements of the previous LDF council, along with flaws in candidate selection, especially in Kochi, may have contributed to the outcome.
In the Palluruthy area, seven of the nine CPI(M) candidates emerged victorious, while LDF allies, Communist Party of India and Kerala Congress (M), won the single division that each contested in. The LDF lost only in Edakochi South, by 24 votes, and in the Palluruthy division. Kadebagham and Thazhuppu were the only divisions in the Corporation where LDF candidates secured victory margins exceeding 1,000 votes.
