KOCHI: After marathon discussions that lasted for one week, the Congress leadership in the district seems to have finally reached a consensus on the Mayor candidate for the Kochi Corporation.
As per an agreement between the group managers, the Mayor post will be given to the ‘A’ faction, which has suggested that the tenure of the Mayor would be shared between Shyny Mathew and Soumini Jain.
“The ‘I’ group agreed to give the Mayor post to the ‘A’ group, while the groups are yet to reach a consensus on the post of the district panchayat president.
Later, a meeting of the ‘A’ faction leaders decided to go for term-sharing between the two nominees - Shyny Mathew who was elected from the Fort Kochi division and Soumini Jain who won from Elamkulam. The decision was officially communicated to the KPCC, which is expected to take a decision on Tuesday. If the KPCC approves the term-sharing formula, first, Shyny Mathew will assume the office of Mayor,” according to a an ‘A’ faction leader.
Meanwhile, the ‘I’ group suggested the name of T J Vinodh for the post of Deputy Mayor. “Though the Muslim League had come up with the claim for the post of Deputy Mayor, the Congress leadership is hopeful of convincing the League leaders on reaching an amicable settlement. As of now, the Deputy Mayor post is reserved for Congress,” according to party insiders.
The group managers also made it clear that the selection of Shyny, ahead of Soumini, was not violation of the KPCC guidelines. “The KPCC had earlier instructed that experienced campaigners should be given prominence. But, that clause was based on certain conditions. Even if both the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor are from the Christian community, the district panchayat president and vice-president would be from the Hindu and Muslim communities,” they clarified.Asha Sanal is the ‘I’ group’s nominee for district panchayat president, while ‘A’ group’s vice-president nominee is Abdul Muthalib.
KPCC MOVE May Tilt the Balance
Kochi:In a late night development on Monday , KPCC president V M Sudheeran has objected to giving the Kalamassery municipal chairperson post to a newcomer, Rukiya Manakkadan. The KPCC’s stance is likely to have an impact on the decision on Mayor candidature of Shyny Mathew to be taken on Tuesday. As a newcomer, she may be out of the race for the Mayor post and the ‘A’ faction will be left with no option other than going for the experienced councillors Deleena Pinhero and Soumini Jain. However, a section of Congress leaders still believe that the KPCC will understand the ground realities in Kochi and will go for the sharing formula between Soumini Jain and Shyny Mathew.
LDF Claim for PANEL Chiefs’ Post
Kochi: The LDF will stake claim for two standing committee chairperson posts in the Kochi city corporation. The LDF is of the view that the front with 30 members in the council has a legitimate right for the posts of standing committee chairpersons. It also cites the precedence set during period of C M Dinesh Mani as Mayor. “It is for the ruling front to decide whether to share the posts with the opposition. The chairmanship of standing committees are generally decided on consensus. We have a legitimate right and if the UDF does not show the political decency, we will have to demand a division in the council,” CPM district secretary P Rajeeve explained.