In a significant political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which emerged as the single largest party in the Tripunithura municipality, faced a major setback during the elections to various standing committees held on Monday. Despite holding 21 seats in the 53-member council, the party failed to secure a majority in almost all crucial panels.
Committee-Wise Results: LDF and UDF Dominate
The elections revealed a clear division of power between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF). The LDF secured a majority in pivotal standing committees including development, welfare, and education. Meanwhile, the UDF clinched control over the public works and health standing committees. This outcome has left the BJP, the largest single bloc, largely sidelined in the operational committees of the local body.
BJP's Lone Gain and Allegations of Alliance
The BJP's sole victory came in the finance standing committee. However, this was a procedural win, as the committee is conventionally chaired by the municipal vice-chairperson. Radhika Varma of the BJP, elected vice-chairperson on December 21, will consequently lead the finance committee. This result stands in stark contrast to the party's recent success in the municipal chairperson election, which it won by a margin of three votes.
The BJP leadership has alleged a tactical understanding between the LDF and UDF to edge them out. The NDA camp has framed this collaboration as the beginning of the INDI Alliance at the grassroots level in Kerala. A BJP functionary stated that the two fronts, which opposed each other in the chairperson's election, joined hands specifically for the standing committee polls.
CPM Denies Coalition Claims
Countering these allegations, local CPM leaders have denied any formal tie-up with the UDF. A CPM leader from Tripunithura attributed the BJP's poor performance to its own "improper planning." The leader explicitly stated, "We didn't tie up with UDF in the standing committee elections. In the elections to pick the heads of standing committees to be held on Friday, none of our candidates will win with UDF support." This statement sets the stage for the next phase of elections.
What Comes Next?
The political focus now shifts to the upcoming election to select the chairpersons of these standing committees, scheduled for January 9. The results will finalize the leadership of each panel and determine the practical control over municipal administration. The current composition underscores a fragmented council where the largest party lacks committee control, potentially leading to complex negotiations and political maneuvering in the days ahead. The final outcome on Friday will be crucial in defining the governance dynamics in the Tripunithura municipality.
