KOCHI:Once bitten twice shy seems to be the unofficial mantra of this year’s Kochi Corporation elections. The LDF leadership, which received an initial setback when the results of the civic body were out with a CPM rebel tasting success, received another jolt on Wednesday with the rebel candidates voting for the UDF Mayor candidate, taking the total number of UDF votes from 38 to 41.
Independent candidate T K Shamsudheen, who won from Thazhuppu division; and Seenath Rasheed, who won from Kalvathy division, are the two LDF rebels who voted for the UDF during the Mayor election. UDF rebel Geetha Prabhakaran, who won from Nambyapuram division, too voted in favour of Soumini Jain.
But the scene was little different in the election of Deputy Mayor as Seenath Rasheed voted against the UDF and gave her vote to the LDF. Whereas, Geetha Prabhakaran and T K Shamsudheen stood with the UDF.
Though the stand adopted by the rebels spread astonishment in the council hall, party sources hinted that the move of the LDF rebels was worked out earlier by offering them Standing Committee Chairperson’s posts. “As per the agreement, the rebels would be given prominent posts if they vote in support of the UDF and the unexpected move of the councillors who supported the UDF was based on that,” said a Congress leader on condition of anonymity.