The United Democratic Front (UDF) lost the Cherupuzha grama panchayat following the withdrawal of support of two Kerala Congress (M) members in no-confidence motions against the panchayat president and vice president on Saturday.
The no-confidence motions against panchayat president M.P. Jameela and vice president V. Krishnan were moved by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]. In the 19-member panchayat, the Congress and CPI(M) has eight members each, the KC(M) two and a member who won a byelection after contesting as Congress rebel.
The no-confidence motions were supported by eight CPI(M) members and two KC(M) members, while they were opposed by eight Congress members and the Congress rebel member.
KC(M) leader and Kayikkara ward member Denny Kavalam said that though the KC(M) had been standing alone in the State’s politics over the past one year, the party continued to back the Congress in the panchayat. The relations between the two parties weakened after the byelection in the Rajagiri ward eight months ago in which both the Congress and the KC(M) fielded candidates. He said his party decided to withdraw support as the disagreement between it and the Congress grew.