An intense election battle is shaping up in Kochi's Kaloor North division. The United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate, T.K. Asharaf, who won last time as an Independent, is back as the official Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) pick. Asharaf has been a councillor four times but this is his first fight outside his usual areas. On the other side, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has P.M. Harris, who won here as an IUML candidate in 2015 but joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) later. Harris says his past with IUML was a mistake and that Kaloor North is traditionally a Left stronghold. Adding to the contest is T.P. Pradeep Kumar from the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS). Other minor candidates include those from Twenty20, the Social Democratic Party of India, and an Independent supported by People’s Democratic Party. Asharaf focuses on development, reminding voters of his 20 years of service and his role as health committee chairperson. He says, “The decision to support the LDF was based on a localised issue that is not hard to explain. Moreover, my candidacy is proof of the IUML’s trust in me. I am confident of victory based on the work I have done over the years.” Harris counters that Asharaf’s limited contacts in the division may work against him and predicts an easy LDF win. He notes the division hosts the CPI(M) district center and the party newspaper Deshabhimani, adding, “BDJS is not a factor at all.” Kumar from BDJS claims both UDF and LDF have failed the people, saying, “People complain that councillors are seen only during election campaigns and disappear afterward. As things stand, the NDA has a very good chance of winning this time.” The division has over 4,700 voters and sees little change after recent delimitation, setting the stage for a tight and colorful contest.