Hung council poses challenge for LDF in standing committee polls in Kozhikode Corporation

With the elections for members of the various standing committees and their chairpersons scheduled within a week, the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the Kozhikode Corporation will have to engage in political manoeuvring to fill these positions.

With a hung council, where the LDF has only 35 of the 76 seats—four short of a simple majority—the United Democratic Front (UDF), with 28 seats, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with 13 seats, which form the opposition, will have a major say in the process.

Elections to the eight standing committees—Finance, Development, Welfare, Health, Public Works, Town Planning, Tax Appeal, and Education & Sports—are scheduled to be held from January 5 to 7. The selection of members is expected to prove tricky this time, as the LDF cannot have a majority in all the committees and will have to accommodate more members from the UDF and at least one member from the BJP in each committee. While the LDF enjoyed a simple majority and a stronger position in 2010, the situation is murkier this time. Apart from lacking a simple majority, it also does not have experienced leadership to manoeuvre matters in its favour in the council.

The chairpersons of the standing committees will be elected by the presiding officers of the respective local bodies. While the Deputy Mayor is the de facto chairperson of the Finance Standing Committee, the other chairperson posts may require elections if there is more than one candidate for a post.

In 2010, the UDF had enough seats in the Kozhikode Corporation council to claim a standing committee chairperson post, held by P. Ushadevi. Later, the front lost ground and could not muster the strength to claim the post again. Leading a strong opposition this time, the UDF has nominated councillor Kavitha Arun from the Kommeri division for a standing committee chairperson post.