: V. Rajendrababu of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was sworn in as the sixth mayor of Kollam on Wednesday. He was administered the oath of office by the district Çollector A. Shainamol. Vijaya Francis of the CPI was sworn in as the deputy mayor. She was administered the oath of office by Mr. Rajendrababu.
Though all the 55 councillors were present, the two Bharatiya Janata Party councillors and the lone Socialist Democratic Party of India councillor abstained from voting.
From the side of the Left Democratic Front, the name of Mr. Rajendrababu representing the Uliyakovil East division was proposed by the ex-mayor Honey Benjamin of the CPI representing the Vadakkumbhagam division and seconded by M. Noushad of the CPI(M) representing the Kayyalakkal division.
From the United Democratic Front side the name of A.K. Hafees of the Congress representing the Thamarkulam division was proposed for the Mayor’s post by R. Prashant of the Revolutionary Socialist Party representing the Madhilil division and seconded by S.R. Bindu of the Congress representing the Palathara division.
The voting procedure inside the council hall was over by 11.45 a.m. and the Collector declared the results at 11.55 a.m. Mr. Rajendrababu was sworn in as Mayor at a specially erected pandal in the corporation headquarters complex. The meeting which followed was addressed by the CPI(M) district secretary K.N. Balagopal, MP, the CPI district secretary R. Ramachandran and former minister P.K. Gurudasan, MLA, former mayors Sabida Beegum and N. Padmalochanan.
