Ajitha Vijayan of the Communist Party of India (CPI) was sworn in as the new Mayor of Thrissur on Wednesday. District Collector T.V. Anupama administered the oath of office at a ceremony held at the Corporation council hall.
Ms. Vijayan was elected Mayor after Ajitha Jayarajan of the CPI(M) resigned from the post last month as per an understanding between the CPI(M) and the CPI. She defeated Subi Babu of the Congress in the election to the post. Ms. Vijayan polled 27 votes against the 22 polled by Ms. Babu.
Seven councillors, six of the BJP and one of the UDF, abstained from voting. The BJP’s decision to abstain from voting made it easier for the LDF.
Congress councillor C.B. Geetha, daughter of former Minister C.N. Balakrishnan, could not attend the voting as she had to attend his cremation. Former Mayor Ajitha Jayarajan suggested the name of Ms. Vijayan.
Addressing the council, the new Mayor said she would give importance to speeding up the development work initiated by the former Mayor.
Many LDF leaders, including Minister for Agriculture V.S. Sunil Kumar, CPI(M) district secretary M.M. Varghese, and CPI district secretary K.K. Valsaraj attended the function.
Ms. Vijayan represents the Kanimangalam ward. She is an Anganwadi teacher. She is also a dairy farmer who has been been distributing milk in her neighbourhood for the past 18 years.
