The political slugfest between the Communist Party of India (Marxist)[CPI(M)]and the Congress following the aborted voting on no-confidence motions against the Koothattukulam municipal chairperson and vice-chairperson and the alleged ‘abduction’ of a CPI(M) councillor Kala Raju continued unabated for the third day on Monday (January 20).
The day began with P.B. Ratheesh, secretary of the CPI(M) Koothattukulam area committee, reiterating in a press conference the allegation that the Congress was behind the alleged abduction. He claimed that United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs Anoop Jacob and Mathew Kuzhalnadan reportedly staged the ‘abduction’ as a diversionary tactic after their no-confidence motion plan, part of political horse-trading, had failed. “CPI(M) has nothing to gain by ‘abducting’ a councillor who won on the party symbol,” he said. Incidentally, Mr. Ratheesh is allegedly the first accused in a case filed by the police following a complaint from Ms. Raju’s children.
“Congress and the UDF should explain where Ms. Raju was between January 15 and 18. We were able to inform all 13 of our municipal councillors about the Left Democratic Front [LDF] municipal committee’s decision to stay away from the no-confidence motion discussions and voting, except for Ms. Raju, who could not be reached during this period. She had inadvertently revealed that the Congress promised to help settle her bank debts, which points to political horse-trading,” Mr. Ratheesh alleged.
Mr. Kuzhalnadan had taken the initiative to shift Ms. Raju to a hospital in Kochi reportedly under the control of the Congress in an attempt to keep the abduction drama under wraps, he added.
The UDF staged a protest in Koothattukulam town, followed by a rally, against what it claimed was “CPI(M) hooliganism” and “police inaction”. MPs Benny Behanan and Francis George, Mr. Kuzhalnadan, and Ernakulam District Congress Committee president Mohammed Shiyas were among the participants.
“We will move an election petition in court, demanding that the no-confidence motions be taken up for discussion again,” said Mr. Shiyas.
Prince Paul John, Congress councillor in Koothattukulam, said that 11 Congress councillors and an independent councillor marked their attendance before submitting a letter to the returning officer, citing their inability to participate in the discussion and vote on the no-confidence motions due to a climate of fear, also referencing injuries sustained by their councillors from alleged CPI(M) high-handedness. “We have secured signed acknowledgement of the letter and the proceedings from the returning officer,” he said.
Published - January 21, 2025 01:04 am IST
