LDF candidates elected chairpersons of three standing committees in Thripunithura

Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidates were elected chairpersons of 3 lasting committees successful Thripunithura municipality, portion the United Democratic Front (UDF) secured two, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), contempt gaining powerfulness successful a historical archetypal successful immoderate municipality successful the district, had to settee for chairing conscionable 1 committee successful the elections held connected Friday (January 9).

In the 53-member council, the BJP holds 21 seats, LDF 20, and the UDF 12. The predetermination of chairpersons produced fewer surprises, pursuing the signifier acceptable during Wednesday’s (January 7) predetermination of lasting committee members. In that round, the LDF won majorities successful 3 committees — development, welfare, and acquisition and sports — portion the UDF secured 2 — nationalist works and wellness — and the BJP managed a bulk lone successful the concern committee. The finance, development, payment and wellness committees each person 9 members, portion nationalist works and acquisition person 8 members.

E.S. Rakesh Pai, K.T. Akhildas, and Shiny Jayakumar of the LDF were elected chairpersons of the development, welfare, and acquisition and sports committees, respectively. P.B. Satheeshan and Manju Binu of the UDF were elected chairpersons of the nationalist works and wellness committees, respectively. The BJP retained power of the concern committee, with vice-chairperson Radhika Varma serving arsenic the de facto chairperson. LDF and UDF councillors abstained from voting successful the predetermination of chairpersons for committees wherever the different held a majority.

Mr. Akhildas, who besides serves arsenic the LDF Parliamentary Party person successful the council, remarked that the BJP miscalculated by stacking 5 councillors into the concern committee successful its bid to power it. “Had they planned strategically, they could person secured astatine slightest 2 committees,” helium said.

However, municipal chairperson P.L. Babu countered that specified an content was being created to exploit nationalist ignorance astir the predetermination process and to obscure the information that the LDF and the UDF had joined hands against the BJP. “The strategy of first-preference votes meant that the BJP was disadvantaged against the combined spot of 32 councillors from the LDF and the UDF erstwhile it came to securing power of the lasting committees,” helium explained.

Mr. Babu further dismissed concerns astir hostile committees obstructing governance. “Local assemblage governance is built connected an knowing among the elected. Without that, adjacent a elemental bulk is of small use. Technically, determination is nary Opposition successful section bodies,” helium said.