KOLLAM:The East Kallada grama panchayat in Kollam catch you off-guard with this train of events -- stunning if you may. Here, only one sitting member -- K P Jose of Congress -- has managed to retain his seat and none of the other 14 incumbents are contesting.
While some of them have been conveniently ignored by their respective parties, others have smartly moved to block panchayats or secured seat for spouses. While one member has decided to quit politics for a government job.
Though Mayadevi,the president of the East Kallada Panchayat, was given a seat by Congress, later she was asked to withdraw her nomination for a RSP woman candidate, two days into her campaigning. Three sitting members - Simon Varghese, Raju Lawrance, Satheesh Plamthundil - and Abraham Samuel, a District Development Committee member -- were denied seats due to group fighting in the party.
Kallada Vijayan of Congress has warmed his seat for his wife Rathi and took his wife’s seat in West Kallada division for Block Panchayat, flouting KPCC norms. Kerala Congress (J) also decided to field Kallada Francis instead of Shali Kamalan at Paricheri ward. CPM, contesting in 10 seats, and CPI, contesting in 5 seats, have decided to field all freshers.
Jayadevi Mohan, former Panchayat president of Upoodu, did not get a seat while Anuja Titus seemed to have sensed the change and opted for a government job six months ago. It is not usual for a local committee secretary of CPM and Mandalam president of Congress to contest in local elections. But here both Vijayan (CPM) and Koshy Vaidyan (Congress) offer exceptions.