KUNNAMKULAM: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the CPI(M) had a rare distinction in Kunnamkulam municipality this time when its nominee in the 12th ward Sunita Sivaraman was elected unopposed.

The seat adjustment talks within the front and with the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) concluded without much hassles. However, this euphoria did not last long.

The presence of strong CPI(M) rebels in several wards has significantly dampened the prospects of an easy win for the LDF in the elections in this municipality, which has not been showing consistent loyalty to either the LDF or the United Democratic Front (UDF).

In the last elections, the UDF won 15 of the total 31 seats with the Congress winning 14 and the Muslim League one. The CPI(M) won all the 14 seats secured by the LDF. The BJP won two seats.

Congress nominee C.V. Baby, who belonged to the `I' group, was then elected Chairman of the municipality and the BJP supported the rule of the UDF combine either by abstaining or by directly voting in its favour.

After nearly three years, C.I. Ittimathew of the `A' group replaced Mr. Baby as per the arrangement within the Congress.

The municipality again witnessed a change of guard about five months back following the defection of three councillors led by K.V. Shaji to the CPI(M) camp.

Mr. Ittimathew then resigned when it became sure that the no-confidence motion against him would get passed. Mr. Shaji, who replaced Mr Ittimathew with the CPI(M) support, is the chairman of the outgoing municipal council. Mr. Baby is now with the DIC.

The new council will have 34 seats. In the LDF, the CPI(M) is contesting 25 seats including the one in which the party nominee won unopposed. The CPI and the Janata Dal are contesting one seat each. The LDF has fielded two independents also. The front has allocated five seats to the DIC.

In the UDF, the Congress is contesting 28 seats. But the Congress nominees are contesting with the party symbol in 21 seats and the party is backing independents in seven wards.

The Muslim League has been allocated two seats, but both of them are contesting not on the official party symbol. The Communist Marxist Party (CMP) has also fielded independents in the two seats allocated to it. The Kerala Congress (M) is contesting in one ward.

The BJP has fielded 19 candidates but only five of them are contesting on party symbol. The rest have been allocated the symbols of independent candidates.

Interestingly, the names of at least four independents are common on the list of candidates of the BJP and the Congress. Even though the Congress leaders are vehemently denying any tie-up with the BJP in Kunnamkulam municipality, they are not able to give a convincing explanation for the presence of these common candidates.

The LDF has given seats to two of those defected councillors including Mr. Shaji. Mr. Shaji has been allocated the party symbol while the second defector M.K. Tharukutty is contesting as an LDF independent.

The allocation of the seats to the defectors from the Congress and to the DIC is the major factor that led to rebellion in the CPI(M).

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