As expected, the Kerala Congress (M) took the chairmanship of the Standing Committee on Development in the Kottayam district panchayat in Friday’s election with the support of the CPI(M), in a replay of the controversial electoral drama enacted on May 3, when the party wrested the president’s post from former coalition partner, the Congress, using the same formula.
In Friday’s election, Sebastian Kulathinkal, who had been so far serving as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Works, was fielded by the KC(M). He received 12 votes against Lisamma Baby (Congress), currently a member of the Standing Committee on Welfare. She bagged eight votes. The post has been lying vacant ever since former chairman Zacharias Kuthiraveli of the KC(M) was elected president on May 3.
With Mr. Kulathumkal’s elevation to the chairmanship of Standing Committee on Development, his former post as member of the Standing Committee on Public Works has fell vacant. However, as per the Panchayati Raj Act, every member should have membership in one of the standing committees. As such, former district panchayat president Joshy Philip will now, in all probability, will be incorporated as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Works.
In the 22-member district panchayat, the Congress has eight members, the KC(M) and CPI(M) six each, and the CPI and P.C. George’s Janapaksham, one each. In Friday’s election, the Congress members voted for their candidate, the CPI(M) and the KC(M) voted for the KC(M) candidate, while the CPI abstained from voting.
The vote cast by the Janapaksham member was pronounced invalid.
Meanwhile, DCC president and former president of the district panchayat Joshy Philip said Friday’s electoral battle proved the worst face of political opportunism practised by Kerala Congress (M) chairman K.M. Mani. Congress men in the district will not allow the KC(M) to come back to the UDF fold, he said.
On the other hand, KC(M) district leaders said the chairmanship of the Standing Committee on Development was earmarked for their party as per an agreement within the UDF before the last local bodies election. That is why they had stood for the election.
According to them, it was the Congress party which had played fowl. They maintained that they had never sought the support of the CPI(M) for Friday’s election.
The CPI(M), meanwhile, said that its support to the KC(M) was part of the decision to defeat the Congress and the BJP wherever and whenever possible.
