Coastal Kochi heats up as three candidates rally voters
Coastal Kochi heats up as three candidates rally voters
As Kerala's coastal Kochi gears up for 2026, UDF, LDF, and NDA candidates fire up campaigns amid local water, healthcare, and development promises.
On the coastal stretch of south Chellanam, the boundary between Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts, police have set up a checkpoint to monitor vehicles for unauthorised cash movements tied to campaign spending. Not far away, the UDF candidate Mohammed Shiyas kicked off his campaign near St. George Church, whose renovation remains stalled midway. The spot was announced with songs blaring from loudspeakers and percussion filling the air, as supporters in tricolour hats waited for the Ernakulam District Congress Committee president to arrive in an SUV nearly half an hour late. After a hurried breakfast at a supporter’s home, Shiyas rushed to the Missionaries of Charity convent nearby, urged on by campaign aides mindful of the ticking clock. “Elections to Parliament and local bodies were warning shots by the people, but the LDF failed to learn the lessons. Now, voters are determined to vote them out. They are focusing on the communal makeup of the constituency to talk up their prospects while addressing basic issues like drinking water shortages and healthcare,” he said.
Nearly 20 km away, at his election committee office in Thoppumpady, K.J. Maxy, the two-time sitting LDF MLA, appeared unruffled. Having paused house visits, he had just returned after meeting Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalipalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan and actor Mammootty. “I don’t feel like I’m part of an election campaign since meeting people is something I do anyway. My chances,” Maxy suggested rather than stated a definitive prognosis, keeping the tone calm as he prepared for more voter interactions.
Across town, Xavier Julappan of the NDA spotlighted unimplemented local projects, arguing that timely development in the coastal belt remains unfinished and voters expect tangible results. The contrasts among the three candidates—one highlighting past failures, another stressing steady engagement and development, and a third pushing for stalled local projects—reflect the tough balance Kerala voters weigh as the 2026 elections draw near.
The campaign unfolding along Kochi’s coastline underscores persistent concerns: access to reliable drinking water, improved healthcare, and concrete local development. With checkpoints, loud rallying, and door-to-door outreach, the race is shaping up to test how well candidates translate promises into visible changes for residents.
