KOCHI: UDF-backed Independent candidate Abdul Jabbar Pappana was elected vice-chairman of Maradu municipality in the election held to the post on Thursday.
Soon after the election, the UDF served a no-confidence motion notice on chairperson Divya Anilkumar, an Independent candidate who had been elected with LDF support, through the office of the Ernakulam Regional Joint Director of Urban Affairs.
Shortly, notices will be served on all councillors, and the Regional Joint Director will convene a special council within 15 days to take up the no-confidence motion.
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In a tight contest, Mr. Pappana defeated the LDF’s K.A. Devassy by 17 votes to 16. Despite differences of opinion within its fold, the UDF managed to tilt the verdict in its favour after soliciting the support of the other Independent candidate, Boban Nedumparambil, who was mollycoddled by offering the post of the public works standing committee chairman.
UDF councillor R.K. Sureshbabu also stepped down as standing committee chairman to accommodate Mr. Nedumparambil. The election to the post will be held within 30 days.
Meanwhile, an understanding has been reached within the UDF whereby Mr. Pappana and Mr. Nedumparambil will swap the posts of vice-chairman and standing committee chairman after a year. Curiously, both of them had contested the last local body election as Congress rebels and have since switched their allegiance back to the UDF.
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Mr. Nedumparambil has all along been insistent that he be given the first of the split term as vice chairman. He was eventually placated on the intervention of top Congress leadership.
Mr. Devassy said the conflicts within the UDF and the Congress would defeat the no-confidence motion against the chairperson. “The walkout by Mr. Nedumparambil midway through the speech of UDF councillor Jilson Peter during the discussion ensuing the vice chairman’s election was a clear sign of rumblings within the front. Defection from the UDF is likely when the motion is taken up,” he added.
Ms. Anilkumar was elected chairperson after the UDF’s Ajitha Nandakumar stepped down following a no-confidence motion by the LDF last year. Congress sources said while no decision had been taken on the potential chairperson candidate, Ms. Nandakumar was also in contention. The UDF has six women councillors to select their potential candidate to the post of chairperson, which is reserved for women.
The election to the vice chairman’s post was necessitated after the incumbent Antony Asanparambil of the UDF put in his papers over disagreement with the party local leadership. District Scheduled Caste Development Officer Abdul Sathar was the returning officer.