Two independent candidates will decide who will rule the Angamaly municipality, where the United Democratic Front (UDF) ended one short of an absolute majority in the counting for the election to the local body held on Wednesday.
In a nail-biting finish, the UDF won 15 seats while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) secured 13 seats. Two independent candidates including Wilson Mundadan, and K.A. Paulose beat their UDF and LDF rivals to win the wards 9 and 22 respectively. UDF required one more seat to have a majority in the municipality spread over 30 wards.
Though Mr. Mundadan and Mr. Paulose have not yet committed whom they will support, the UDF camp exuded confidence that the independents would join hands with them.
Political instability has dogged the local body for several years, and it was no different after the UDF came to power in the elections held in 2005 with a minor lead of one seat. Both the fronts had won 13 seats each but the UDF managed to corner the support of an independent candidate and went on to rule the municipality for nearly three years.
But the coalition politics lost track mid-way and a series of defections involving UDF members witnessed the return of the CPI(M) to power. The LDF topped the then ruling council headed by its chairperson Lily Raju thanks to the support extended by three UDF members.
Thandu Varghese of the UDF was made the chairperson as per the accord reached between the rebel UDF members and the LDF on the occasion. The agreement also witnessed Valsala Haridas of the CPI (M) becoming the chairperson during the fag end of the five-year term of the council.
