Varkala: new chief to be elected on July 9

The Varkala municipal council will meet on July 9 to elect its new chairperson. The post fell vacant after the State Election Commissioner disqualified chairperson Surya Prakash and four other councillors under the anti-defection law.

Mr. Prakash was elected on a Congress ticket in the last local body polls and was made the chairperson. Later, the party asked him to step down from the post.

As Mr. Prakash refused to step down, the Congress members moved a no-confidence motion and ousted him from the post.

However, he returned to the post with the support of Left Democratic Front councillors and rebel Congress members. The State Election Commissioner, acting on a complaint, disqualified Mr. Prakash and four other councillors.

Municipal chairperson and four councillors disqualified under

anti-defection law.