The Congress members of Kumbalangi panchayat are up in arms against president Usha Pradeep and are moving a motion of no confidence against her on Tuesday.
Seven Congress members of the panchayat have addressed the media demanding the resignation of the president, stating that she had breached an earlier agreement to quit the presidential post after the completion of two-and-half years. Kumbalangi panchayat, the native place of Union Minister K V Thomas, has 17 members: Congress-9, Kerala Congress (M)-1 and LDF-7.
In June 2013, a no confidence motion signed by Susan Joseph, Dileep Kunjukutty, Nelson Kocherry, Rita Peter, Joisy Joseph, Josy Idamuri and Kunjumol Jude, who are the current members of the panchayat, was given to the DCC president.
“In 2010 there were some problems within the Congress party, in connection with the election of the panchayat president.
Three members stayed away from the meeting. Later, with the involvement of Congress leaders, the issue was resolved and Usha Pradeep was elected as the president. It was agreed that she would resign after two-and-half years. However, even after three years, she is unwilling to quit.
Now all the Congress members of the panchayat are demanding the resignation of the president unanimously. The members have demanded the Congress leadership to expel Usha and elect Susan Joseph as the president. We have raised the issue with DCC President V J Paulose, Union Minister K V Thomas, MLA Dominic Presentation and Congress District Secretary Adv K P Haridas, but nothing has happened,” said Nelson Kocherry, the 3rd ward member . It is unfortunate that the Congress leadership is not demanding the resignation, he added. Usha Pradeep said that there is no written agreement which demands her resignation.