The new governing bodies of Kasaragod, Kanhangad and Neeleshwaram municipalities came into being on Wednesday with the councillors electing the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons through ballot.
Beefathima Ibrahim of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) was elected chairperson of the Kasaragod municipality while V.V. Rameshan and K.P. Jayarajan of CPI(M) were elected as chairmen of the Kanhangad and Neeleshwaram municipalities respectively.
Ms. Beefathima, who won from the Kollampady ward, received 21 votes while BJP candidate K. Savitha was polled 14 votes.
Rashid Pooranam, who won by contesting as an IUML rebel, cast his vote in favour of Ms. Beefathima while a CPI(M) councillor and two Independents abstained from the voting process.
The IUML has secured 20 seats, BJP 14, CPI(M) and IUML rebel one each and Independents 2 in the 38-member local body.
L.A. Mahamood Haji of the IUML was elected vice-chairman of the local body. He had won from ward no. 13.
Mr. Rameshan, also a CPI(M) district committee member, won from the party stronghold of Athiyambur ward, was elected chairman of the Kanhangad municipality, securing 23 votes.
Muhammed Kunhi of the IUML, who was nominated as UDF chairman aspirant, was polled 13 votes while BJP’s C.K. Valsalan garnered five votes. The remaining two IUML and BJP rebel councillors abstained from the open voting process held at the municipal council hall.
L. Sulaikha of the Indian National League (INL), who secured 23 votes, was declared vice-chairperson of the local body.
CPI(M) nominee and former Kannur University Controller of Examinations K.P. Jayarajan, who won from Kunhipulikkal ward, was sworn in as the new chairman of 32-member Neeleshwram municipality, securing 19 votes. K.P. Karunakaran of the Congress mustered 13 votes.
Former CPI(M) municipal chairperson V. Gouri was elected vice-chairperson of the governing body.
