No-trust motion in Kochi Corporation on Thursday

KOCHI: With the opposition deciding to move a no-confidence motion against mayor on Thursday, both the fronts are gearing up for the do or die battle. Keeping in mind the byelection for Ernakulam assembly segment, which fell vacant after Hibi Eden got elected as MP, UDF and LDF attach much significance to the moving of no-confidence motion.

On both sides, hectic parleys are on for adopting and strictly executing the strategies and tactics for winning. Last week, Congress leadership met in the city and held discussions with mayor, deputy mayor and corporation councillors. “Some of the leaders and councillors lashed out the autocratic manner in which the corporation’s leadership functions. Still, it has been decided that UDF councillors shouldn’t turn up. Leadership will be issuing whip,” a councillor who attended the meeting said. When TOI contacted deputy mayor T J Vinod, he did not give a direct reply to the question of whether the UDF leadership will be giving whip asking the front’s councillors to abstain from attending the council meeting on Thursday. “We will be adopting strategies which help us defeat the no-confidence motion. We don’t have the responsibility to ensure their (LDF) victory,” Vinod said.

According to the opposition councillors, the UDF move is an indicative of lack of confidence. “They don’t have confidence in their own members. Once voting is held on the motion, some of the UDF councillors also would be voting in favour of LDF. That’s why they are asking their councillors to not to be present in council on the day. This shows how weak they are,” said V P Chandran, secretary, LDF parliamentary party, Kochi corporation .