The Hindu : Front Page : Stalemate in Palakkad municipality continues

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Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005

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Stalemate in Palakkad municipality continues

Staff Reporter

LDF candidate wins post, resigns

PALAKKAD: The administrative deadlock continues in the Palakkad Municipality after Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate A. K. Chandrankutty, who was elected chairperson defeating the BJP-backed candidate P.M. Vijayakumar in the election held on Monday, did not take oath of office and resigned.

Immediately after the Returning Officer announced the election result, Mr. Chandrankutty declared at the council meeting that he was resigning, as the LDF had decided not to assume power with the support of the United Democratic Front (UDF) or the BJP.

In a surprise move, the LDF candidate was supported by the UDF - Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League - and received 29 votes out of a total 48 votes in the 50-member council.

Though the LDF initially had won 17 seats, two of its members belonging to the CPI(M) had resigned from the council last month as action was taken against them by the party for making their votes invalid in the election to the post of the Chairperson last time.

In the last civic polls, the LDF had won 17 seats, the BJP 17 and the UDF 16. Thus no party or combination received a clear majority. In the election held on Monday, one Congress member K. Mani crossed floor and voted for the BJP-backed candidate thus bringing down the UDF strength to 14. The BJP-backed candidate was elected on the Indian Union Muslim League ticket. But he had filed an affidavit in the High Court expressing his willingness to contest for the post of the Chairperson.

However, the IUML issued whip to its five members, including Mr. Vijayakumar, asking them not to contest the poll or support the BJP-backed candidate. To escape from anti-defection law, Mr. Vijayakumar did not vote for himself.

Parties' charges

KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala said on Monday that the UDF members had supported the LDF candidate to prevent the BJP from gaining control of the municipality.

Muslim League State Secretary P. K. Kunhalikutty said that the developments in Palakkad municipal council had exposed the liaison between the BJP and the LDF. BJP State President P.S. Sreedharan Pillai said the his party will hold demonstrations in the State on Tuesday to protest against the `conspiracy of the LDF and UDF to sabotage the verdict of the people.'

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