KOCHI: As the UDF fails to reach a consensus with the Opposition on selection of the eight Standing Committee chairpersons in the Kochi Corporation, the stage is set for an election.
According to party insiders who attended the Parliamentary party meeting of UDF at the District Congress Committee office on Saturday, Shiny Mathew, who was the top contender for the Mayor post, will be contesting for the post of Town Planning Committee chairperson. The UDF will field sitting councillor Gracy for the post of Development Standing Committee chairman.
“Adv Minimol V K, who won from Palarivattom, will be contesting for the post of Health Standing Committee chairperson, while senior leader A B Sabu will pursue the post of Welfare Standing Committee. The IUML has decided field P M Haris, who contested from the Kaloor North division, for the Works Committee Standing committee post,” said a source in the party.
The decision was taken at the Parliamentary party meeting attended by V J Paulose, Excise Minister K Babu, K V Thomas MP, Benny Behnan, Dominic Presentation, Hibi Eden and Mayor Saumini Jain. Manwhile, a decision on the Education Standing Committee chairperson will be taken after a second round discussion.
If everything goes as discussed, Malini Biju, who contested from Island North, will be given the post of Education Standing Committee chairperson.
Earlier, the decision to consider the LDF’s request was turned down by the UDF after the former demanded two standing committee posts. “We were ready to give one seat to the CPM as they hold 30 seats in the 74-member council, which they rejected,” said a top leader in the UDF.
Mayor Saumini Jain said the purpose of the DCC meeting was just to give a brief idea about the procedure for electing the standing committee chairpersons. “We have not taken any decision,” she said.
Election to all the eight standing committees will be held on Monday. Additional district magistrate P Padmakumar will be the returning officer.