United Democratic Front’s (UDF) Suneela Siby was elected as the new chairperson of the Maradu municipality on Tuesday amidst Left Democratic Front (LDF) allegations that UDF ‘bought’ peace in its camp ahead of the election.
Ms. Siby defeated LDF-backed independent councillor Divya Anilkumar by 17 votes to 16 to become the third chairperson of the civic body in less than two years. Ms. Anilkumar had stepped down last month in the wake of a no-confidence motion moved by the UDF.
The LDF had pinned hopes on the rumblings in the UDF camp to carry the day for its candidate who eventually bit the dust as UDF managed to keep its flock together. On the election eve there were reports of differences of opinion in the UDF over the chairperson candidate.
District Congress Committee secretary and councillor R.K. Sureshbabu shot down allegations of discontent in the UDF camp and cited the victory of its candidate as proof of the unity.
Ms. Siby, however, was candid enough to admit that there were some minor issues initially as she quickly added that everything was sorted out now. “The priority is to take everyone on board and find lasting solution to waste treatment and the menace of plastic waste,” said the first-time councillor.
Ms. Anilkumar admitted that she had harboured hopes of a victory considering the multiple claimants to chairperson candidate in the UDF and a possible revolt by Congress ‘I’ group councillors, which appeared imminent till the poll eve. Looking back at her almost a year-long tenure as chairperson, she cited initiating the works on a plastic shredding unit, free ambulance service within the municipal limits and introduction of two palliative care units among her major achievements.
“During my term and that of UDF’s Ajitha Nandakumar before that, the council was taken into confidence and decisions were taken in consultations with members of all standing committees. But in the last 20 days since I stepped down vice-chairman and chairman in-charge Abdul Jabbar Pappana acted unilaterally as if UDF had already wrested the power though only a single seat separated the two fronts,” said Ms. Anilkumar.
Senior LDF leader K.A. Devassy alleged that the UDF fielded Ms. Siby after silencing the potential rival candidate within the Congress using financial clout. “The disgruntlement within the UDF camp was palpable from the fact that none of the eight UDF women councillors backed Ms. Siby,” he said.
Probe sought
Mr. Devassy said that LDF had already petitioned the Minister for Local Self-Government K.T. Jaleel and the Regional Joint Director of Urban Affairs demanding an inquiry into the decisions allegedly taken unilaterally by Mr. Pappana without consulting the council. Two appointments and issuance of a building permit were among the decisions questioned by the LDF.
In the 33-member council, both the LDF and the UDF have 15 members each with the former commanding the support of one independent and the latter that of two independents.