6 months ago
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The Munnar grama panchayat is hoping for a uncommon agelong of stability. The past 5 years person been marked by governmental turbulence, with 5 antithetic presidents taking turns astatine the helm.
Munnar is simply a fashionable tourer destination, but the panchayat regularly witnesses hours-long postulation jams and lacks parking facilities. The lack of a autobus basal and inconvenience to tourists are among the large concerns.
“Even though determination are hundreds of hotels and resorts here,there are nary due discarded attraction plants oregon sewage plants. Wild elephants eating plastic-mixed discarded astatine a panchayat-managed discarded attraction works astatine Kallar is simply a regular occurrence,” says a tourism stakeholder. The discarded attraction works astatine Kallar is not yet full-fledged.
The fig of wards successful the panchayat has decreased to 20 from 21 aft delimitation. Most of the voters present are beverage plantation workers, with Tamil voters being the decisive factor.
In the 2020 section assemblage elections, the United Democratic Front (UDF) secured the bulk by winning 11 of the 21 seats, and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) 10 seats. However, successful January 2022, 2 UDF members, Praveena Ravikumar and M. Rajendran, defected to the LDF tipping the equilibrium of power. Ms. Ravikumar past became president and Mr. Rajendran vice-president.
No-trust motion
This was followed by a bid of defections. In August 2022, Thankamudy of the Communist Party of India (CPI) joined the UDF, and successful February 2023, V. Balachandran, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] member, followed suit. The UDF, sensing an opportunity, called for a no-confidence motion. But conscionable earlier the motion, the panchayat caput received Mr. Rajendran’s resignation letter. Later, Mr. Rajendran alleged that his signature had been forged. The State Election Commission (SEC) allowed him to clasp his station portion the substance was nether review.
In October 2023, the SEC officially disqualified Ms. Ravikumar and Mr. Rajendran for switching parties, pursuing which the Congress won the no-trust motion. However, its 1 ballot became invalid, resulting successful a tie. Then, the Congress’ Deepa Rajkumar became president done a draw.
Later, she was disqualified aft lapses was recovered successful the draw, resulting successful the LDF’s Jyothy Satheeshkumar becoming the panchayat chief. Six months later, theUDF reclaimed powerfulness with Ms. Rajkumar arsenic president.
Later, Ms. Rajkumar submitted resignation. However, she soon retracted, alleging coercion. She submitted a 2nd letter, claiming that her resignation was made nether duress and that the signature had been forged by Congress workers.
The panchayat caput forwarded some the letters to the SEC, which allowed her to proceed successful office. Subsequently, the Congress members moved a no-trust motion, forcing Ms. Rajkumar to measurement down. In May 2025, Congress’ M. Manimozhi became the president.
CPI(M) territory secretariat subordinate K.V. Sasi says “the LDF aims to summation powerfulness successful the panchayat with a beardown margin. If it comes to power, the beforehand volition amended amenities and instrumentality steps to power the unreserved successful the town.”
Congress artifact committee president S. Vijayakumar says “the Congress aims to supply development-oriented medication successful Munnar. Proper discarded attraction plants and parking facilities are our main concerns.”
Bharatiya Janata Party Munnar panchayat in-charge Balamurukan says “bus stands, parking facilities, and discarded absorption systems are our priority.”
