5th president for Munnar panchayat in four years

The recently elected Munnar grama panchayat president M. Manimozhi with the UDF members. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The governmental play gripping the Munnar grama panchayat continues unabated, with the predetermination of its 5th president successful conscionable 4 years.

In the latest development, Congress subordinate M. Manimozhi emerged victorious successful the statesmanlike predetermination held astatine the panchayat bureau hall, securing 11 votes, portion Left Democratic Front (LDF) campaigner Jyothi Satheesh Kumar received eight.

The predetermination was necessitated pursuing the resignation of erstwhile president Deepa Rajkumar. Although Ms. Rajkumar initially submitted her resignation to the panchayat caput connected February 29, she soon retracted, alleging coercion. Within 2 hours, she submitted a 2nd letter, claiming that her resignation was made nether duress and that the signature had been forged by Congress workers. The panchayat caput forwarded some the letters to the State Election Commission, which allowed her to proceed successful office, though temporarily.

Subsequently, Congress members moved a no-confidence motion, yet forcing Ms. Rajkumar to measurement down. With Ms. Manimozhi’s election, the panchayat present has its 5th president of the existent term. For Manimozhi, it is her 2nd stint successful the role.

21 seats successful all

The messy enactment way reflects the broader instability wrong the panchayat ever since the 2020 section assemblage elections, erstwhile the United Democratic Front (UDF) secured a bulk by winning 11 retired of 21 seats. However, successful January 2022, 2 UDF members, Praveena Ravikumar and M. Rajendran, defected to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and caused a extremity in the equilibrium of power. Ms. Ravikumar became president and Mr. Rajendran vice-president, bringing the panchayat nether the power of the LDF.

This was followed by a bid of defections. In August 2022, Thankamudy, a subordinate of the Communist Party of India (CPI), joined the UDF and successful February 2023, V. Balachandran, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] member, followed suit. The UDF, sensing an opportunity, called for a assurance vote. But conscionable earlier the vote, the panchayat caput received Mr. Rajendran’s resignation letter. Later, however, Mr. Rajendran alleged that his signature was forged. The Election Commission temporarily allowed him to clasp his presumption portion the substance was nether review.

Disqualified

The saga reached different turning constituent successful October 2023, erstwhile the State Election Commission officially disqualified Ms. Ravikumar and Mr. Rajendran for switching parties. The UDF seized the accidental successful 2024, calling a palmy no-confidence ballot and securing the vice-president station for V. Balachandran.

Six months later, successful February 2024, different assurance question saw the UDF officially reclaiming power of the panchayat. Deepa Rajkumar was appointed president, lone to measurement down soon aft nether arguable circumstances.

Published - May 13, 2025 09:20 p.m. IST