KOCHI: Even as the Corporation council makes preparations for the upcoming budget session, speculation is rife over finding a successor to Deputy Mayor T J Vinodh, who was recently appointed president of the Congress district committee.
According to sources close to the district leadership of the UDF, the Deputy Mayor will submit resignation after presenting the budget.
Though the party had decided to seek the resignation of Vinodh, a staunch member of the ‘I’ faction, the idea was dropped later in view of the budget.
“Since the Deputy Mayor is holding the finance portfolio, his service is essential for the Corporation at present. He will submit his resignation immediately after the budget session,” said the sources.
It is learnt leaders of the ‘I’ faction and the UDF leadership will convene a meeting on March 10 to finalise Vinodh’s successor. The UDF leadership is considering an ‘I’ faction leader for the post, with K R Premkumar and Thampi Subramanian topping the list.
“Most probably, we will consider Premkumar for the post. Earlier, an agreement was reached to hand over the Deputy Mayor post to another member after two-and-half years,” they said.
There is also speculation the district leadership, which is under pressure to maintain ‘secular balance,’ would consider David Parambithara, who belongs to the Catholic community, for the Deputy Mayor post.
The IUML, which has two members in the UDF-led council, is also expected to stake claim for the post.
Meanwhile, Vinodh was not available for comment.