Senior Congress leader Jamal Manakkadan seems to be the only choice of the Congress for the post of chairperson of the Kalamassery municipality after the United Democratic Front (UDF) registered an impressive win in the local body elections in the 46-member civic body.
Mr. Manakkadan, a former chairperson, had won the Vattekunnam ward with a majority of 17 votes this time. The Congress parliamentary party has almost confirmed his candidature for the post of chairperson after the UDF defeated the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the local body elections by securing victory in 30 of the total 46 wards. Najeeb Kalamassery, president of the Congress party’s mandalam committee in Kalamassery, said that Mr. Manakkadan would lead the ruling council after the Congress-led UDF came up with a good performance in the local body polls. He said that the post of deputy chairperson would be given to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) as part of an understanding within the front.
P.M.A. Latheef, president of the IUML’s Kalamassery Town Committee, said that they were considering Shanida Siddique and Shareena Kamaruddin for the post of deputy chairperson. A final decision would be taken soon, he said. Ms. Siddique had won the Mini town hall ward with a majority of 131 votes. Ms. Kamaruddin had won the municipal ward with a majority of 29 votes.
The election to the post of chairperson is expected to be smooth, as the UDF enjoys a majority in the council, while the LDF could manage only 13 wards in the polls. It had a total strength of 20 councillors after the local body elections held in 2020. Luck had favoured the UDF last time after Seema Kannan, Congress councillor, was chosen as chairperson through a draw of lots.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance was unable to improve upon its performance in the polls, settling for a single win after retaining the Thrikkakara temple ward with a majority of 11 votes.
Published – December 16, 2025 09:34 pm IST
