Congress captures Paralam panchayat in Keralam’s Thrissur with CPI support, BJP cries foul

The Congress has wrested control of Paralam grama panchayat in Thrissur from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with its candidate Rose Mary Apesh elected president with the support of two Communist Party of India (CPI) members, triggering allegations of a political understanding between the Congress and the Left.

Ms. Apesh, the member representing ward 10, secured eight votes against six of her rival in the presidential election. The votes of three Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] members were declared invalid, paving the way for her victory. The election followed the BJP-led administration’s ouster through a no-confidence motion.

No majority

The 17-member panchayat has six members each from the Congress and the BJP, three from the CPI and two from the CPI(M). The support of the two CPI members proved decisive in the presidential election, enabling the Congress to take the helm despite neither the Congress nor the BJP having a majority on its own.

The BJP had lost power after a no-confidence motion against its president and vice-president, moved by the Congress, was passed on September 10 with the support of the CPI and CPI(M) members.

The BJP had secured the presidency after a Congress member reportedly cast an invalid vote. The subsequent no-confidence motion and the latest presidential election has altered the political equation in the panchayat.

In defiance of party

The two CPI members voted for Ms. Apesh in defiance of the party whip, according to reports. They said their decision was aimed at preventing the BJP from returning to power. The Congress candidate and the CPI members also maintained that their stand reflected their commitment to democratic principles.

The BJP, however, described the development as evidence of an understanding between the Congress and the CPI to keep it out of power.

In a statement, BJP Thrissur City district president Justin Jacob alleged that the two parties had joined hands to secure power despite their differing political positions. He said the vote exposed the contradiction between their publicly stated political stands and their actions at the local level.

Mr. Jacob challenged the CPI and CPI(M) leaderships to explain the development to their cadres and voters, and asked whether they were prepared to take action against the CPI members who crossed the party line.

Describing the election as more than a routine change of leadership, he alleged that political calculations had taken precedence over people’s mandate and democratic values. He said voters would judge the parties’ actions.