KOCHI: The Congress-led Aluva municipal council seems to have started the third year of its innings on a wrong footing, with the party’s majority effectively dropping from the previous five to a not-so-comfortable three, going by the open defiance by two ruling councillors.
Leena George and K.V. Sarala (the latter was suspended from the party) joined Independents Sebi V. Bastin and K. Jayakumar and BJP councillor A.C. Santhosh Kumar in staging a protest in front of the municipal office during a black day observance against the alleged non-performance of the civic body led by the Congress over the first two years.
In the 26-member house, the Congress had 14 councillors to nine of the Left Democratic Front, which now effectively stands at 12 if the position of two councillors is taken into account.
“We will petition the District Congress Committee against Leena George, while demand will also be raised to oust Sarala from the party,” said a defiant chairperson Lissie Abraham. Asked whether the party was in danger of losing majority if more councillors were to raise the banner of revolt, she reminded that disqualification awaited those who defied party whip.
Allegations
Both Ms. George and Ms. Sarala accused the chairperson of acting arbitrarily and depriving party forum for airing grievances by not holding parliamentary party meetings. “Besides, there is a gag on speaking out during councils,” said Ms. George.
Ms. Sarala was more scathing in her criticism of Ms. Abraham, accusing her of acting in a manner not behoving the position she held. Ms. Abraham, however, dispelled all allegations of not holding parliamentary party meetings and lack of development. She said that four of the five councillors who staged a protest on Monday had walked out of an emergency council meeting held to discuss a project for handing over land for building houses for the homeless.
The disgruntled councillors, except Ms. George, had formed a combine called Janapaksham, which Mr. Bastin claimed was an apolitical initiative.
Meanwhile, the opposition is gearing up to hold its own march and dharna against the alleged non-performance of the municipal council. Opposition Leader Rajeev Zachariah discounted taking the support of Janapaksham councillors, including a BJP councillor, and said if the number of councillors was big enough to avoid action under the anti-defection law, then the LDF would take an appropriate decision.
