KOCHI: The uncertainty looming over the District Congress Committee (DCC) to change the leadership ended on Thursday, with KPCC announcing the name of T J Vinodh, a staunch ‘I’ faction member and present Kochi Corporation Deputy Mayor, as the new DCC president.
However, the decision kicked up a political speculation in the city corporation over finding a successor for the deputy mayor post. As the UDF leadership is considering an ‘I’ faction leader for the post, K R Premkumar and Thampi Subramanian are on top of the party’s lis.
For a secular balance, however, it may consider Latin Catholic councillor David Parambithara, but his ‘A’ faction may be a crucial factor for his claim. “With KPCC appointing him as DCC president, Vinodh will resign from his present post. He served for one year.
If Premkumar is ready to lead for the remaining one-and-half years of the tenure, he will get top priority. Else Subramanian and K K Kunjachan may be considered,” said a top source with the ‘I’ faction. While senior Congress leader of the ‘A’ faction A B Sabu is also under consideration, the group equation may result in UDF retaining him as development standing committee chairperson.
Meanwhile, the IUML, which has two members in UDF council, has decided not to take a stand for the post, lest it be misinterpreted as a reaction to the earlier stand-off between Mayor and its councillors, said a top IUML source.
Party may think twice
The Congress leadership may think twice before seeking T J Vinodh’s resignation from the deputy mayor post, said Ernakulam MLA Hibi Eden, as he played a crucial role in governance and his absence may put the ruling council in turmoil.
“No rule exists that one has to resign from a post, if he or she gets a more responsible post. Vinodh is a crisis manager in the corporation.
If his resignation adversely impacts the corporation, he will continue. Even the councillors do not want him to resign. The DCC meeting will take a final decision,” he said.