KOCHI: Though the BJP’s representation in the council is limited to the two sitting members, the party could improve its vote share in the city. In a couple of divisions like Thevara and Amaravathy, the saffron party candidates posed tough challenge to those of both fronts. In Thevara, it was a neck-and-neck race with BJP candidate Lisha Santhosh leading till the final round of counting.
The strategy of fielding the maximum number of candidates — more than 1,700 candidates in the district — helped BJP spike its vote share and expand its presence. Compared to 2010 elections, the saffron party could increase its vote share in the city from 6 to 17 per cent. The party candidates could secure second position in four divisions also. The BJP which contested in 34 divisions in 2010 secured a vote share of only six per cent of the total turnout. This time, the party fielded candidates in 71 of the total 74 divisions in city corporation.
The party could send two of its members, Shyamala S. Prabhu who won for sixth consecutive time from Cheralayi, and Sudha Dilipkumar who retained her seat at Ernakulam Central defeating the Congress heavyweight Leno Jacob, to the Corporation council.
But the saffron party could not make a big impact that its leaders expected with district president P.J Thomas being defeated in Panampilly Nagar division. The alliance with SNDP also couldn’t make any big impact for the party in Kochi.
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