Kottayam , 21 July (H.S.): Pala Municipal Chairperson Diya Binu Pulickakandam was removed from office on Tuesday after a no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition LDF was passed with the support of four rebel Congress councillors, bringing an abrupt end to her tenure less than a year after she assumed office.
Diya, who became the country's youngest municipal chairperson at the age of 21, lost the confidence vote after 17 councillors backed the motion in the 26-member council. The result hinged on cross-voting by four of the six Congress councillors, overturning the UDF's slender majority.
The UDF had 14 members in the council against the LDF's 12. However, Congress councillors Biju Mathews, Tony Thaiparambil, Lissykutty Mathew and Rajita Prakash voted in favour of the motion. Two other Congress councillors, Riya Cheeramkuzhy and Sebastian J. Panackal, were absent. Three Kerala Congress members and a KDP councillor also stayed away from the meeting.
After the vote, Tony Thaiparambil claimed he had not received the party whip. “I came directly to the council after returning from Vagamon this morning. I have not received any whip,” he told reporters, adding that the outcome reflected public sentiment in Pala.
The political crisis has its roots in the alliance that enabled the UDF to wrest control of the municipality from Kerala Congress (M). Diya's election was made possible with the backing of her father, Binu Pulickakandam, and uncle, Biju Pulickakandam, who were part of an independent collective. Relations later deteriorated amid allegations that the group had moved closer to the Left.
The dispute intensified after the municipality permitted the DYFI to hold its district conference at the Kottaramattom bus stand, a decision opposed by the Congress. Binu Pulickakandam denied allegations that the independents deliberately stayed away from the council meeting to facilitate the approval, saying they were attending a neighbour's funeral.
Political tensions further escalated following a series of police complaints between Diya and Congress councillor Biju Mathews over the alleged theft of her watch and official files and an alleged assault linked to a dispute over shifting an autorickshaw stand.
Deputy chairperson Maya Rahul, whose election had helped the UDF form the administration, said she would abide by the front's decision while stressing that cooperation among councillors was essential for stable governance in a municipality facing financial challenges.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
