Marking an end to the simmering discontent between two factions of the Congress party in Thrikkakara, Shaji Vazhakkala on Monday submitted his resignation as Chairman of the municipality.
Mr.Vazhakkala, an ‘I’ group camp follower, submitted his resignation to municipal secretary D.Saju at his office around 4 p.m. The resignation will pave the way for the elevation of former chairman Mohammad Ali, leader of the ‘A’ group, as Chairman for the remaining term of about a year.
Following the resignation, the vacancy was reported to the State Election Commission, which is scheduled to conduct an election to the post within 15 days. For the time being, Municipal Vice-Chairperson Shereena Shukkoor will hold the additional charge of Chairman.
The step comes in the wake of an earlier decision to hand over the post to the A group after a term of one year. Mr. Vazhakkala said he had sought advice from the District Congress Committee before tendering the resignation. “There is no direction as such from the State leadership as claimed by the A group. I have done this so as to avoid any further issues as the recurring group tussles have dented the party’s image among the public’’, he said.
Mr. Ali, on the other hand, said that resignation followed a directive by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee to implement a decision for leadership change taken by its subcommittee.
