The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is likely to announce most of its remaining candidates to contest the Kochi Corporation in the upcoming local elections on Saturday (November 15, 2025). Foreign Minister George Kurian is expected to make the announcement.
Earlier this week, the NDA released its first list of 32 candidates — 30 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and one each from the Kerala Congress (Nationalist) and the National People’s Party (NPP). On a sour note, the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), an ally, refrained from announcing due to differences with the BJP over the number of seats allotted.
However, BJP district president KS Shaiju maintained that there were no differences with the BDJS. While BDJS has asked for five seats, Mr. Shaiju said up to 12 seats will be allotted to the alliance partner. BDJS fought in three constituencies in the last election and lost all of them. The outgoing corporate board had five NDA board members, all from the BJP.
Kerala Congress (Nationalist) and Shiv Sena, NDA partners, will get two seats each, while JE will get one. Another potential ally may also be given the seat, although this has not yet been decided. The BJP will contest in the remaining wards.
A six-time councilor from Cheralayai ward, Shyamala S. Prabhu, has been dropped from the BJP. Meanwhile, the party has opened its doors to Sunitha Dixon, member of the Revolutionary Socialist United Democratic Front, sitting councilor from Vyttila ward, and Santh Vijayan, sitting Congress councilor from Devankulangara ward.
The NDA has given a ticket to Joshi Kaithavalappil, president of the parents-teacher association of St. John’s Public School. Rita’s, Palluruthy, which recently hit the headlines after a hijab (headscarf) row. As a JE candidate, he will contest from Palluruthy Kacheripady division.
Published – 14 Nov 2025 19:02 IST
