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3d ago

Congress Bloc Breaks in Mattathur as Rebels and BJP Install Independent President

Local grievances prompted suspensions, with rivals alleging a Congress–BJP understanding.

In the recent local body elections, the LDF won 10 seats, the UDF eight, the NDA four, while two independents were elected.
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Overview

  • Tessy Jose Kallarakkal was elected Mattathur panchayat president with 12 votes, backed by eight councillors who quit Congress and three BJP members, while one BJP vote was ruled invalid.
  • The outcome ended the Left Democratic Front’s 23-year control of the 24-member body, which was split LDF 10, UDF 8, NDA 4, plus two independents after the recent polls.
  • A last-minute shift by Congress rebel K. R. Ouseph to the LDF—after being chosen as the UDF’s nominee—triggered the mass resignation of the eight Congress councillors and their move to field Tessy Jose.
  • Party discipline escalated as the KPCC suspended DCC general secretary T. M. Chandran and Mandalam Congress president Shafi Kalluparambil, and the DCC later announced additional suspensions of ward members tied to the episode.
  • The resigning councillors cited neglect of the mandalam committee and grassroots workers, denied joining the BJP, and faced CPM accusations of an ‘unholy alliance’ and coordinated effort to oust the LDF.