KOZHIKODE: Thottathil Raveendran has emerged as the top mayor probable for Kozhikode Municipal Corporation after V.K.C. Mammed Koya resigned following his victory as Beypore MLA. Party sources said Mr Raveendran would become the mayor provided the CPM state committee approved it.
Mr Raveendran is the senior most CPM leader on the council and is representing Chakkorathukulam division for the fifth time. According to rule, new mayor should take charge as early as possible after a casual vacancy arises. Undoubtedly one of the most popular leaders of CPM in the city, Mr Raveendran is the first mayor to complete the full five-year term in office (2000-2005) since the formation of the corporation in 1962.
Mr Raveendran has been a councillor continuously for four times since 1979. He also had a stint as the deputy mayor and for a brief term of one month as mayor-in-charge in 1998. A party leader said the decision in this regard would be taken after the swearing-in ceremony. “Talks on the next mayor has not yet started," he told DC.
"However, since the state election commission may declare the date for the election at any time by giving a seven-day time, we need to do it as early as possible. Mr Raveendran is our natural choice.” “The party has not yet taken a decision. It required the approval from state party leadership also. At present, I am the most experienced among our councillors,” Mr Raveendran said.
