The election of Deepak Joy as Thripunithura MLA has necessitated a by-election in the Ayyappankkavu division of the Kochi Corporation, which he represents. The United Democratic Front (UDF) will also have to identify a replacement for him in the post of deputy mayor.

Mr. Joy is expected to submit his resignation as councillor shortly.

He defeated K.N. Unnikrishnan of the Left Democratic Front by over 18,000 votes. In addition, Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) president Mohammed Shiyas, who was also elected MLA from Kochi, remains preoccupied. The DCC is likely to decide Mr. Joy’s successor as deputy mayor.

The Congress had earlier split the deputy mayor’s term into two halves of two-and-a-half years each for its councillors Mr. Joy and K.V.P. Krishnakumar. A similar split-term arrangement is also in place for the Mayor’s post, with Congress councillors V.K. Minimol and Shiny Mathew sharing the position.

Whether a new councillor will be appointed deputy mayor or Mr. Krishnakumar’s term will be advanced remains to be seen. Congress sources indicated that the latter was unlikely, but clarified that a final decision would be taken by the DCC in consultation with the Congress Parliamentary Party.

Initially, UDF constituent Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had staked a claim to the deputy mayor’s post for a year. The IUML had also expressed displeasure over the manner in which the Congress district leadership overlooked its claim and unilaterally announced two candidates for the post under a split-term arrangement.

The claim was eventually rejected, primarily due to the Congress’ strong performance, which alone secured sufficient councillors in the 76-member Corporation. Subsequently, the IUML’s potential nominee for the deputy mayor’s post, T.K. Asharaf, was accommodated as chairperson of the works standing committee.