No confidence motion wins, CPM loses Kannur Corporation rule

KANNUR: Putting an end to the CPM rule of Kannur Corporation , which lasted for almost four years, the no-confidence motion moved by the UDF, against mayor EP Latha , on Saturday won by two votes. 28 councilors, including deputy mayor PK Ragesh voted in favour of the no-confidence motion while 26 voted against it.

Terming the new development as the victory of the UDF, Congress leadership attributed this to Kannur MP and senior Congress leader K Sudhakaran and Ragesh.

The CPM-led LDF was ruling the Corporation with the support of Congress rebel and present deputy mayor PK Ragesh, who was earlier with the Congress and later joined hands with the CPM.

The UDF has 28 members now, including Ragesh who is an independent member, while the LDF has 26 members, in the 55-member Corporation, as CPM member from Edakkad, TM Kuttykrishnan had died last week.

The election of the new mayor would be held in three weeks after the completion of the formalities.

It was during the Lok Sabha polls that the Congress patched up with Ragesh, who even supported the UDF in the election, thus leading to his coming closer to the Congress, especially following the intervention of K Sudhakaran.

Though the LDF had demanded that UDF member KK Bharathi should be disqualified, as she did not participate in three consecutive council meetings, it was not approved, as one meeting was emergency meeting.

After the victory, Congress leader Suma Balakrishnan is likely to be the next mayor for six months and then the post would be handed over to the IUML, another UDF constituent. But Ragesh would continue as the deputy mayor.