Kochi: In a stark departure from last year's marathon proceedings, the election to the eight standing committees of the Kochi Corporation concluded swiftly by noon on Wednesday. While the previous year saw the election process stretch over a day due to fierce voting battles among the three fronts, this time the exercise was wrapped up in just two hours after rival fronts reached an informal understanding to avoid a contest.

With the United Democratic Front (UDF) holding a decisive numerical advantage in the 76-member council, the opposition restricted its nominations, allowing the committee formations to pass without a ballot battle. The UDF currently holds 47 seats, giving it a clear upper hand over the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) 22 members and the BJP's six.

Leveraging its majority, the UDF secured dominance across all panels. The council's composition requires every councillor to serve on at least one committee.

In the crucial 10-member Finance Committee, which the Deputy Mayor customarily chairs, the UDF secured seven seats, leaving three for the LDF. The ruling front also maintained a grip on the other 10-member panels, the Development and Welfare standing committees; in both, the UDF took six seats and the LDF three, while the BJP secured a single representative in each.

The dynamic shifted slightly in the nine-member committees. The UDF claimed six seats against the LDF's three in both the Health and Works standing committees. The Town Planning committee witnessed the tightest margin, with the UDF holding five seats to the LDF's four.

The BJP concentrated its remaining strength in the final two nine-member panels. In the Tax Appeal standing committee, the UDF took six seats, the BJP two, and the LDF one. Similarly, the Education and Sports standing committee was divided, with the UDF holding five seats, while the LDF and BJP took two seats apiece.

Within the ruling coalition, the UDF allotted three slots to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) -- one each in the Finance, Works, and Tax Appeal standing committees -- while the Kerala Congress was given a spot in the Health standing committee. However, the arrangement left the IUML dissatisfied; they had requested a seat in the Education committee rather than the Tax Appeal panel. The demand went unmet as the nomination for the Tax Appeal committee had already been formally declared by the time the request was raised.

Drama over "late arrivals"
The day's proceedings began at 10 am with the mandatory nomination of a woman member to each of the eight committees, a requirement fulfilled solely by the UDF.

The session, presided over by Additional District Magistrate Vinod Raj as the returning officer, was briefly disrupted at the start. A majority of the 22 LDF councillors were absent when the doors closed at 10 am, reportedly mistaking the start time for 10:30 am. Although initially locked out, they were eventually permitted to enter since the absence of a voting contest rendered their late arrival less critical. The LDF later alleged that some members had not received proper notice of the timing, noting that several UDF and BJP councillors were also missing initially.

With the committee members now finalised, Kochi Corporation is scheduled to elect the chairpersons for these standing committees on January 13 at 10:30 am.