UDF nominates V.R. Sudheer as candidate for Kochi deputy mayor election

UDF has the support of 48 members in the 76-member house; LDF and BJP field candidates; Deputy mayor post had remained vacant since Deepak Joy resigned after being elected as Thripunithura MLA

Published - July 28, 2026 10:57 pm IST - KOCHI

The Hindu Bureau

Four-time councillor V.R. Sudheer has been named as the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate for the deputy mayor’s election of the Kochi Corporation, scheduled for Wednesday.

A meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party, chaired by District Congress Committee (DCC) president Mohammed Shiyas, MLA, on Tuesday unanimously selected Mr. Sudheer, who represents the Elamakkara South division.

The post fell vacant after incumbent Deepak Joy resigned on May 13, shortly after being elected as Thripunithura MLA. It has remained vacant since, drawing criticism from the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF), which alleged an administrative impasse as the deputy mayor also chairs the crucial finance standing committee of the Corporation.

Candidates from Other Fronts

• LDF: P.J. Yesudas, representing the Nasrathu division
• BJP: Jalaja S. Acharya, first-time councillor representing Thrikkanarvattom

House Strength and Expected Outcome

The outcome is expected to be a foregone conclusion, given that the UDF enjoys the support of 48 members, including one Independent, in the 76-member house, while the LDF and the BJP have 22 and six members respectively.

Background

The Congress had earlier allotted split terms of two-and-a-half years each to Mr. Joy and K.V.P. Krishnakumar, representing the ‘A’ and ‘I’ factions respectively. A similar arrangement is in place for the Mayor’s post, with Congress councillors V.K. Minimol and Shiny Mathew sharing the position.

Though several names within the ‘A’ faction were initially considered, Mr. Sudheer remained the frontrunner throughout owing to his seniority.