The sudden death of a woman councillor belonging to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has brought down the number of seats of the ruling front, equal to that of the combined Opposition in the city Corporation. However, this is unlikely to pose any immediate threat to the ruling LDF in the council but taking decisions and getting it passed in the council would be a difficult task.
In the 100-member council, the LDF has 51 seats, the United Democratic Front (UDF) 42, Bharatiya Janata Party six and one Independent. With the death of the councillor, the LDF strength had been reduced to 50.
Insiders in the city Corporation said a possible threat to the ruling front comes only when the UDF succeeds in weaning away ‘disgruntled’ elements within the LDF towards its side and ensures support of the BJP and Independents.
“It’s a remote possibility at this juncture given the political situation in the State. Also the Lok Sabha polls are around the corner where the fight is between Congress and BJP at the national level,” said a source.
There was some disgruntlement within the LDF, particularly on the issue of the Chala plant, but it had been amicably settled after the intervention of the district- level leadership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), it was learnt reliably. Ruling out any threat to the front, Mayor K. Chandrika said that even if the Opposition comes together, the number of seats would be almost the same. “We don’t see the BJP and the UDF coming together. Even in the Mayor election, the BJP had put up a candidate,” she said.
Ms. Chandrika also ruled out unhappiness within the constituents of the LDF and expressed optimism that the party candidate would emerge victorious in the bypoll at the Attipra ward, which has to be held within six months.
