Former Mayor of Kochi Soumini Jain. | Photo credit: THULASI KAKKAT
“Don’t expect a red carpet welcome just because you are a woman. Be resilient in overcoming tough challenges and remain steadfast in pursuing goals that serve the public interest without succumbing to external influences,” are the wise words of Soumini Jain, the only surviving woman who served as mayor of Kochi, for the next woman who is about to don the mayor’s mantle. The city is preparing to appoint its third female mayor after the upcoming local body elections.
Ms Jain of the United Democratic Front (UDF) was the second woman to hold the post after Mercy Williams of the Left Democratic Front, who served from 2005 to 2010. Ms Williams died in 2014.
Ms. Jain’s tenure from 2015 to 2020 was far from smooth sailing. She faced challenges within her party as well, yet managed to complete her full term despite occasional calls for her removal. Professionally, she had to deal with the floods of 2018 and the pandemic during the end of her term.
“I was known more for the difficulties I had to face, which were well documented by the media. But I would like to believe that my tenure as mayor was defined more by how I overcame those challenges and what I ultimately achieved,” she recalls.
Ms. Jain was not a seasoned politician but a housewife who entered politics. The Congress elevated her to the post of mayor after giving her a term as chairperson of the race standing committee in the Kochi Corporation Council headed by Tony Chammany as mayor.
“When a woman is elevated to a position of power, people tend to expect a government free of corruption and high competence given her ability to run the household,” she says. But reality hit when she started working. “Political interference made life difficult and the implementation of public interest projects was mistaken for attempts at personal glory. Things have improved since then, but during my tenure I had to face the deep-rooted patriarchy embedded in our culture, even among civil servants. I experienced this even before I became mayor, when I was the chairman of the standing race committee,” recalls Ms. Jain.
She adds that she came with a “curiosity quotient” as mayor, which was reflected in the large number of events she was invited to. “Though it was pleasant, it took a toll on my work. It would be better to spare the new mayor such commitments, at least during office hours, so that she can concentrate on her duties,” suggests Ms. Jain.
“Regardless of gender or political affiliation, the person elected as mayor should be given the freedom to work for the benefit of society,” he concludes, adding that he remains available for any responsibility the party may entrust to him.
Meanwhile, apart from the corporation, 38 panchayats, seven municipalities and seven block panchayats will be headed by women in the next five years. Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam, Perumbavoor, Aluva, Angamaly, Eloor and Maradu will have women chairpersons.
Published – 07 Nov 2025 20:25 IST
