KOCHI: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has exceeded the 50 per cent quota for women in local body polls by including 38 women candidates for the 74-member Kochi corporation council elections.
During a function held at Maharajas College here on Sunday, former finance minister T.M. Thomas Isaac released the LDF manifesto.
The LDF has given priority to new faces in the candidates’ list and only very few sitting candidates including opposition leader K.J. Jacob could find a place in the list.
The other councillors who are contesting for a second term are M.P. Ma-hesh Kumar, V.A. Sree-jith, P.S. Prakasan, Bene-dict Fernandez, P.R. Ranish, Adv. Sunila Selvan and C.D. Valsalakumari.
Apart from the reservation seats, the CPM has selected women candidates for two general seats like Giri Nagar and Ravipuram where former women’s commission member Prof. Monamma Kokkad and Usha Pra-veen, daughter of former chief minister E.K. Nayanar will seek the people’s mandate.
Of the 74 divisions, CPM candidates will contest in 58 seats, CPI in eight seats, NCP in three, Janata Dal in two, Congress (S) and CPI (ML) in one each.
