Kottayam, 19 July (H.S.):

Barely six months after creating history as India's youngest municipal chairperson, 21-year-old Diya Binu Pulickakandam is facing a no-confidence motion in the Pala municipality amid widening cracks in the alliance that brought her to power.

The motion has been moved by the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF), which is hoping to secure the backing of Congress councillors after growing differences between the Congress and the independent collective led by the Pulickakandam family. The Congress mandalam committee has already resolved to support its councillors' decision to sever ties with the independent group.

Diya, along with her father Binu Pulickakandam and uncle Biju Pulickakandam, was elected as part of an independent collective that helped the UDF wrest control of the 26-member municipality from the Kerala Congress (M), ending its long-standing dominance in the civic body. The UDF-backed administration currently holds a slender majority with 14 councillors, while the LDF has 12 members, including 10 from the Kerala Congress (M) and two from the CPI(M).

Responding to the political developments, Diya said she was prepared to face the challenge and maintained that she remained part of the UDF-backed administration. She said her position would depend on the coalition's official decision regarding its support.

Relations between the Congress and the independent collective deteriorated after the municipality granted permission to the DYFI to hold its district conference at the Kottaramattom bus stand, a move opposed by Congress leaders. The independents were accused of staying away from the council meeting, allowing the proposal to pass. However, Binu Pulickakandam denied the allegation, saying the permission was granted as part of routine administrative procedures and that they had been absent due to a funeral.

Political tensions deepened after Diya accused a Congress councillor of stealing her wristwatch and official files from the chairperson's office, while the councillor had earlier alleged that he was assaulted by her father and uncle during a dispute over relocating an autorickshaw stand.

LDF leaders said administrative functioning had slowed amid the political uncertainty, prompting the no-confidence move and raising concerns over delays in monsoon-related and civic development projects.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman