Rebel will call the shots in Kannur Corporation
The Congress had already taken a stand that no winning rebel candidate would be re-inducted into the party
KANNUR: The newly formed Kannur Corporation grabbed the attention of the state once the poll results were announced on Saturday. P. K. Ragesh, Congress rebel candidate, who won from the Panjikkayil ward will decide who will rule the corporation. Of the total 55 seats, both the LDF and UDF had won 27 seats each and one seat by Ragesh.
Ragesh, formerly a staunch supporter of K. Sudhakaran, was suspended from Congress after he filed nomination paper as rebel candidate. After winning by a majority of 21 votes, he had announced his unconditional support for the Congress.
Later, he backtracked demanding that he would support provided the KPCC directly requested him and K. Surendran removed from the DCC president's post.
The Congress had already taken a stand that no winning rebel candidate would be re-inducted into the party.
Ragesh's rift with K. Sudhakaran and K. Surendran intensified due to the administrative issues at Pallikunnu cooperative bank, which is ruled by the Congress. The defeat of M. V. Raghavan's daughter, V. M. Girija, is another significant factor. Late Congress leader N. Ramakrishnan's daughter, Amritha (Congress), was elected.
Of the eight municipalities, both the fronts shared four each (LDF - Anthur, Koothuparambu, Payyannur and Thalasserry; UDF -Iritty, Panur, Sreekantapuram and Thaliparambu).
The LDF has retained the district panchayat (15-9). Of the 11 block panchayats, the LDF had a clean sweep. In gram panchayats, the LDF has the definite upper hand with winning 52 among them. The UDF has only 19 panchayats in its kitty.
A. Ashokan (CPM), former BJP district secretary, who joined the CPM with O. K. Vasu, has been elected from Maangattidam division of Kuthuparambu block.
The BJP has had a stunning performance in Thalasserry municipality by winning six seats. The saffron party won five seats in Iritty municipality, three in Panur municipality and one in Thaliparambu.
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