Palakkad: The District Congress Committee bid to pass a no-confidence motion against the ruling BJP in Palakkad municipality failed as one Congress councillor tendered his resignation and went absconding during the wee hours of Monday.
In the 52-member council, the motion was defeated by a single vote as the UDF and LDF that jointly voted in favour of the motion could gather only 26 votes, one short of simple majority.
DCC president V.K. Sreekandan said that the BJP had succeeded in wooing one of their councillors, V. Saravanan of Kalpathi ward, who tendered his resignation to the municipal secretary by visiting his quarters allegedly during the wee hours of Monday.
At a press conference held on Monday afternoon, Mr Sreekandan said that the councillor had fallen for the money offered by the BJP and that he would be dismissed from the party.
Three Congress councillors and a Muslim League councillor said in press release that the BJP leaders had called them offering Rs 15 lakh and financial aid for marrying off their daughters.
The KPCC will also be asked to conduct an inquiry into the resignation of the party councillor who was issued a whip to vote in favour of the motion, Mr Sreekandan said. "The pro-CPM secretary also worked against the rules by accepting the resignation at his quarters. The BJP has no moral right to rule the civic body," he added.
