Kerala local body polls: Three women take charge as Mayors; Pala elects youngest woman chairperson
Thiruvananthapuram, December 26
With mayoral elections concluded on Friday, women have assumed leadership in three municipal corporations in Kerala. United Democratic Front councillors V K Minimol, P Indira and Dr Niji Justin were sworn in as mayors of Kochi, Kannur and Thrissur corporations, respectively.
The remaining three corporations, Kollam, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, will be headed by men. In Kollam, UDF councillor A K Hafees took oath as mayor, while LDF councillor O Sadasivan assumed charge as the new mayor of Kozhikode. In Thiruvananthapuram, the BJP scripted history by securing an absolute majority, with VV Rajesh sworn in as mayor.
Addressing the media after his election, VV Rajesh struck a conciliatory note, emphasising inclusive governance and balanced development. "We will move forward, taking everyone along. Development programmes will be implemented by treating all 101 wards equally. Thiruvananthapuram will be transformed into one of the developed cities of the country," he said.
Meanwhile, Pala municipality created history by electing its youngest-ever woman chairperson. Diya Binu Pulikakkandam, who won the local body election as an independent candidate, was elected chairperson with 14 votes. The UDF decided to back Diya after three members of the Pulikakkandam family, Binu Pulikakkandam, his daughter Diya, and his brother Biju, extended support to the front.
Their support proved crucial in the 26-member municipality, where the LDF won 12 seats, the UDF secured 10, and independents won four seats. Following the family's decision to support the UDF, the District Congress Committee leadership offered the chairperson post to Diya for the first two years.
In Kochi, KPCC general secretary and councillor Deepthy Mary Varghese congratulated newly elected mayor V K Minimol, effectively putting an end to the controversy surrounding the mayoral selection.
However, in Thrissur, the mayoral election sparked a row after Congress councillor Lali James alleged that the District Congress Committee had "sold" the mayoral post to Dr Niji Justin.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see young leadership in Pala. Diya Binu's election is a positive sign. However, the article also mentions controversy in Thrissur about the mayoral post being 'sold'. This kind of internal party politics is what puts people off. Parties should be more transparent.
Interesting mix of results. BJP's historic win in Thiruvananthapuram is the big story. If Rajesh can deliver on his promise of inclusive governance for all 101 wards, it could change the political landscape. The real test is development on the ground, not just words.
The Pala situation is classic Kerala politics – family alliances deciding power. A whole family holds the balance and the post goes to the daughter. While it's great to have a young woman chairperson, one hopes her decisions will be her own, not influenced by family politics.
Congratulations to all the new mayors! The focus should now shift from election promises to actual work. Issues like waste management, flooding, and public transport need urgent attention in these corporations. Let's see who performs best in the next two years.
As someone from Thrissur, the controversy around Dr Niji Justin's election is disappointing. We need stability and clean leadership, not allegations of posts being traded. Hope the mayor rises above this and focuses on the city's development, which is what truly matters.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.