UDF on a sticky wicket in Aluva municipality
Two Congress councillors join 2 independents.
KOCHI: The UDF rule in Aluva Municipality which completes two years now is on a sticky wicket with two Congress members joining two independents and a BJP councillor to protest the ‘misrule’. In the 26-member council, the UDF has 14 seats and the LDF nine, besides the two independents and the lone BJP member. With the two virtually revolting against the leadership, the UDF dispensation led by chairperson Lissy Abraham has become vulnerable. If the LDF moves a no-confidence motion, then they will have to do some firefighting.
The ‘revolt’ of Leena George and K. V. Sarala was evident on Monday when they joined the independent councillors Seby V. Bastin and K. Jayakumar and BJP councillor A. C. Santhosh Kumar in protest against the "development retardation and corruption". Congress sources said former chairman M. O. John who recently landed in a controversy over the sale of Congress party office is doing some backseat driving.
This coupled with the autocratic style of functioning of Ms Abraham led to the revolt. The five allege that the promised development of the Aluva market, EMS Cultural Centre, public library, private bus stand and municipal park, construction of a slaughterhouse and proper waste disposal, all are in the doldrums.