In a first, Kollam gets CPI mayor in Honey Benjamin

KOLLAM: For the first time in the history of Kollam Corporation, a CPI candidate was sworn in as Mayor here on Tuesday.

Honey Benjamin was elected as the new Mayor riding on the decisive vote of PDP councillor M.Kamaludeen. The LDF candidate got 28 votes against the 27 secured by UDF candidate Maya Ganesh.

The re-election had to be held owing to the resignation of ex-mayor Prasanna Earnest as part of an agreement with the LDF during a no-confidence motion raised by the UDF.

PDP candidate M.Kamaludeen will get the standing committee chairmanship as per the agreement with the LDF for his decisive vote.Uliyakkovil Sasi of the CPI will quit as Standing Committee Chairman of the Tax Appeal Department in the Corporation making way for the PDP candidate.

Meanwhile, the PDP candidate was ousted from his party as per the decision of  Chairman Abdul Nassser Madani, the other day.

The elected Mayor Prasanna Earnest stepped down following a no-confidence motion raised by the UDF during the crossover of the RSP to the UDF.

The PDP activists were against the stance taken by Kamaludeen who allegedly took part in the horse trading after his vote became decisive following the no-confidence motion.