: The Varkala Municipality has plunged into a crisis following the disqualification of its chairman and four other rebel Congress councillors under the anti-defection law. Municipal chairman K. Surya Prakash and councillors A. Davood, P.S. Vinayakumari, K.G. Suresh, and S. Sanoosh were disqualified for violating party whip.
Sources in the municipality told The Hindu that the members had on March 12 approached the High Court seeking a stay on the order issued by the State Election Commissioner. The High Court admitted the writ filed by the members, but refused to stay the order issued by the Commissioner, sources said.
On March 7 last, Mr. Surya Prakash, who was elected on a Congress ticket, was removed from the post of chairman through a no-confidence motion moved by councillors belonging to his own party, on charges of nepotism, corruption and non-performance. However, he managed to retain the post by garnering the support of nine members belonging to the CPI (M), two of the CPI, one of the BJP and one rebel CPI (M) member in the 33-member council.
The ruling front has now lost majority and the Congress, with 15 members, has an upper hand in the council.
Mr. Prakash said they might move a Division Bench of the Court for getting a stay on the order disqualifying them. “We are waiting for the court order rejecting the stay. A decision would be taken on Monday,” he said.
Court had refused to stay the disqualification
Plan to move High Court Division Bench
