Jockeying on for District Congress Committee president post

Kochi: The intense jockeying for the post of District Congress Committee (DCC) president has put a question mark over the survival of the ruling alliance of Congress-led United Democratic Front in power at Kochi Corporation. The supporters of deputy mayor T.J. Vinod making a strong bid for his candidature for the post of DCC president has put the fate of the ruling alliance in the civic body in a jeopardy, sources familiar with the development said. If Mr. Vinod remits the office of the Deputy Mayor the Indian Union Muslim League, the second largest constituent in the UDF alliance, will make a strong bid for the post. IUML having two representatives in the 74-member council, currently is not having any major position in the present dispensation.

The IUML representatives with the support of the lone Kerala Congress (M) member has already made life miserable for Mayor Soumini Jain byraising the charges that the Mayor is not giving due respect to the UDF constituents. Although a meeting was held few days back to iron out the differences by the UDF leaders a source said that IUML and Kerala Congress members were egged on to opt for a posture of confrontation by vested interests in the faction-ridden Congress unit in the district.

The top contenders for the post of DCC president included KPCC secretary I.K. Raju and deputy mayor Vinod. Although Raju is having an impeccable record supporters of Vinod are also confident of their leader winning the approval from the High Command. Both Raju and Vinod belongs to the ‘I’ group. Apart from his image as a clean person, the choice of Mr. Raju will also avoid the need for bringing any changes in the corporation council, source said.