Fri Feb 14 20:16:17 UTC 2025: ## Kochi Corporation Elects New Standing Committee Chairpersons

**KOCHI, Kerala –** The Kochi Corporation elected new chairpersons for its welfare and development standing committees on Friday. C.D. Valsalakumari of the CPI(M) won the welfare committee chairmanship, defeating Laila Das of the UDF. C.A. Shakeer of the CPI secured the development committee position, beating Antony Painuthara of the UDF.

Valsalakumari’s victory replaced Sheeba Lal of the JD(S), a member of the ruling LDF. Shakeer’s win followed the resignation of P.R. Ranish of the CPI(M) to allow for the CPI candidate. The CPI now holds the Deputy Mayor position in addition to the development committee chairmanship.

The BJP abstained from voting in the welfare committee election, a move the UDF criticized as a “quid pro quo” for the CPI(M)’s abstention in a no-confidence motion against a BJP-led committee. The UDF statement alleges a CPI(M)-BJP nexus within the corporation. The LDF holds a majority in both committees.

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