Parties hustle to pick faces for the modest Ayyappankkavu by‑election in Kochi

When Deputy Mayor Deepak Joy won the Thripunithura assembly seat, he left his council chair in Ayyappankkavu empty – a gap that needs filling before the Kochi Corporation can get back to a full 76‑member roster.

The numbers tell the story of why this by‑election is being called “low‑stakes”. The UDF, which runs the council, already leans on 47 members – that includes an independent who has pledged support. The Left Democratic Front sits at 22, while the BJP clings to six seats. Even if the opposition snatches the Ayyappankkavu spot, the UDF’s grip on the council remains unshaken.

Still, every seat matters to the parties, and they’re already buzzing. On Sunday, September 6, the UDF’s ward committee convened at the local office. The room was a familiar one: Joy himself, MLA T.J. Vinod and Ernakulam UDF chief Dominic Presentation. By the end of the meeting, eleven hopefuls had filed applications. Two names kept surfacing – former mandalam presidents Mohandas and Ajith – but the committee wisely handed the final call over to the District Congress Committee, noting that nomination papers must be in by September 10.

Across the aisle, the LDF is not sitting still. Sources say the Ernakulam Area Committee will meet on Monday to hash out a shortlist, which will then be forwarded to the district leadership for a final nod. The exact name of the left‑leaning candidate remains under wraps for now.

The BJP, meanwhile, has already settled on a face: Bejoy K.D., the co‑convenor of the party’s district media cell. His selection was announced quietly, but it signals the party’s intent to at least contest the seat, even if the odds are slim.

All eyes will be on the September 10 deadline. While the outcome is unlikely to shift the balance of power in the corporation, the by‑poll offers a small stage for local leaders to prove their mettle ahead of the next full council election.