After being elected as an independent candidate from Kochi Corporation’s Kalvathy division – following an insurgency against his party, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), in the last local body elections – after several flip-flops – TK Asharaf seems set for another turnaround, saying he is ready to return to the party after resigning as chairman of the standing committee on health.
The IUML district leadership, however, denied any knowledge of such developments, contradicting Mr. Asharaf’s claim that he had informed the party. He admitted that he would step down as chairman of the standing committee, but refused to specify when.
“I wanted to go back to my parents’ party,” he said. Asked about differences with the party during the last election, he said such issues are natural in a big party and have since been resolved. However, IUML leaders dismissed the reports of his early return as a personal campaign by Mr. Asharaf.
Mr. Asharaf refused to be labeled an IUML rebel, preferring to call himself an independent. Mr Asharaf said he worked for United Democratic Front (UDF) candidates in the last assembly and parliamentary elections as proof of his affinity.
He claimed that his support was crucial in helping the Left Democratic Front (LDF) secure the mayoral seat after the last election. However, he insisted that his appointment as the chairman of the standing health committee was not in return. “The health standing committee had nine members – four each from UDF and LDF. I was elected chairman because I was acceptable to both the fronts,” Mr Asharaf said.
He was tied to the LDF, which emerged as the single largest front to consolidate its power on its return to office after a long hiatus. He was appointed chairman of the Permanent Health Commission. However, halfway through the term, cracks began to appear as Mr Asharaf complained of being sidelined in committee matters. The situation worsened after a major fire at the Brahmapuram solid waste processing plant in 2023 after Mayor M. Anilkumar effectively took control of the committee’s operations.
Published – 5 Nov 2025 23:27 IST
