With the election of the new chairperson slated for May 9, political activities have once again picked up momentum in Thrikkakara municipality, nearly a month after former chairperson K.K. Neenu and her deputy Sabu Francis were voted out through a no-confidence motion brought up by the United Democratic Front (UDF).
Congress (I) sources said discussions were in progress on the choice of the new chairperson, though political circles are abuzz with talk of Congress councillors M.T. Omana and Ajita Thankappan sharing the chairperson’s post during the remaining term of the council. It is widely expected that Mr. Francis will be elected vice-chairperson despite earlier reports that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had staked a claim to the post of vice-chairperson.
The UDF sat in the Opposition for more than two years because the LDF could gather the support of the two rebels — Sabu Francis of the Congress and M.M. Nassar of the CPI(M). Mr. Francis was in turn elected vice-chairperson. The Congress (I) had initially appeared disinclined to rope in Mr. Francis to ensure UDF rule in the municipality.
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Key role
The two political rebels played a key role in the formation of the council as the numbers were delicately balanced. The UDF has just one more councillor than the LDF in the 43-member council. The UDF has 21 councillors and the LDF 20. But the support of the two took the numbers to a majority for the LDF.
However, over the last two years, the rebels have had a change of heart, and a no-confidence motion was moved against the chairperson and the vice-chairperson in early April. It was passed without opposition as the ruling front members had abstained from voting.
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