The Hindu : LDF loses majority in Kollam Corporation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 18, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

LDF loses majority in Kollam Corporation

By Ignatius Pereira

KOLLAM Dec.17. With the setting aside of the election of the CPI(M) member, Prasanna Earnest, from the Pattathanam Division, the ruling LDF has lost its majority in the Kollam Corporation council. However, the LDF can continue in power on technical grounds.

In the 50-member council, the LDF came to power with a strength of 26 members including two independents who are actually Congress rivals. The break up at that time was CPI(M) 16, CPI 4, RSP 4 and two independents. The UDF enjoyed the support of 24 members including two PDP members. The break up being Congress 19, RSP(B) 2, Muslim League 1 and the two PDP members.

Earlier this year following an election petition, the election of the CPI(M) candidate from the Palkulangara Division, G. Anitha, was set aside by the Munsif Court here and her nearest rival, Beena Krishnan of the RSP(B), was declared elected. This had brought down the strength of the LDF from 26 to 25 while that of the UDF went up to 25 from 24. However, in the council, Mrs. Krishnan, does not enjoy voting rights.

Today the election of yet another CPI(M) candidate, Prasanna Earnest, was also set aside. In the September 2000 elections to the council, Mrs. Earnest was declared elected from Pattathanam and she was a strong contender for the Mayor's post, which had been reserved for women. However, the Mayor's mantle finally went to her comrade from the same party, Sabita Beegum.

Capturing the Kollam Corporation after the elections was not an easy job for the LDF despite having the majority over the UDF. At that time the LDF had 24 members and the UDF 22. In the remaining four seats, two were PDP members and two independents. Tense moments followed during the moves made by both the fronts to win over the crucial four.

However, things settled down when the two PDP members declared their support for the UDF and the two independents declared their support for the LDF. This enabled the LDF to improve its strength to 26 and the UDF to 25.

Meanwhile, following today's Court verdict and one earlier, the election of two CPI(M) candidates has been set aside. Both the elections were set aside on grounds of bogus voting. In one instance while the rival UDF candidate was declared elected by the Court, in today's verdict that did not happen. This has put things in a precarious position for both the fronts.

The strength of both the UDF and the LDF stands at 24 each since one member from the UDF side, Mrs. Krishnan, has no voting rights. The break up for the LDF is CPI(M) 14, RSP 4, CPI 4 and independents 2. The UDF break up is Congress 19, RSP(B) 3, including that of the members without voting rights, Muslim League 1 and the PDP 2.

Meanwhile, the KPCC general secretary, Raj Mohan Unnithan, has called for the resignation of the Mayor, Sabita Beegum, in the light of today's Court verdict. In a statement, he said that following today's Court verdict and the one earlier, it has been proved that the CPI(M) in particular and the LDF in general had made it to the Corporation council through bogus voting. "The Mayor has no moral right to continue in power.''

He said that if the electronic voting machines used at the Pattathanam ward had been intact, the Congress candidate, R. Lathikabai, would have been declared elected. "Deleting the details from the machines and dispatching the same for other needs even as the election case was pending is by and large a conspiracy,'' he alleged.

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