KOCHI: Though the UDF retained power in the Ernakulam district panchayat by securing 14 seats in the 26-member council, the Front is yet to identify the president and vice-president candidates.
With the Kochi Corporation yet to select the Mayor, for which communal equation is the main deciding factor, the district panchayat has delayed its decision on the president and vice-president.
According to sources, the president candidate projected by the ‘A’ group will be given the first priority, as the Mayor post will most likely be given to the ‘I’ group this time.
“In the previous election, the president post was given to the ‘I’ group, while the vice-president post and the Mayor seat were given to the ‘A’ group. Going by that, it is likely that the ‘A’ group will get the president seat this time, while the vice-president seat will go to the ‘I’ group,” said a Congress leader.
This time, the president post is reserved for women in the district panchayat. According to sources, if the president seat is given to the ‘I’ group, sitting councillor Asha Sanil who contested from Mulanthuruthy will be considered. Dolly Kuriakose, who contested from the Avoly division, will also have a chance to become the president.
If the KPCC decides to give the president seat to the ‘A’ group, Kizhakkambalam grama panchayat former president Jolly Baby, who won from the Vengola division this time, would be the first preference.
“At present, we have not yet started discussions as the KPCC norms will be known only on November 12. As usual, communal balancing will be the key deciding factor this time too,” said Congress leader and former district panchayat president Eldhose Kunnappilly.