Deepak Joy's election as the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Thripunithura has led to the need for a by-election in the Ayyappankkavu division of Kochi Corporation, which he represented. Joy is expected to resign from his position as deputy mayor, prompting the United Democratic Front (UDF) to seek a replacement. He won the election by a margin of over 18,000 votes against K.N. Unnikrishnan of the Left Democratic Front. The Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) will likely decide on Joy's successor, although it remains uncertain whether a new councillor will be appointed or if K.V.P. Krishnakumar's term will be advanced. Earlier, the Congress had split the deputy mayor's term between Joy and Krishnakumar into two halves of two-and-a-half years each. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had previously claimed the deputy mayor's position for a year but was overlooked by the Congress leadership, leading to dissatisfaction within the IUML. T.K. Asharaf, the IUML's nominee, was later appointed as chairperson of the works standing committee.