Congress–BJP Understanding in Kumarakom Panchayat as UDF Independent Wins President Post

Kottayam: Congress–BJP understanding in Kumarakom Panchayat. UDF (Independent) candidate AP Gopi was elected as the Panchayat President. At present, the party strength is: LDF – 8, UDF (including an independent) – 5, and BJP – 3. The LDF candidate was KS Salimon.

The name of UDF (Independent) candidate AP Gopi was proposed by BJP Parliamentary Party Leader PK Sethu, and supported by UDF member Saleema Shivathmajan. As both candidates received eight votes each, a draw of lots was held, in which AP Gopi emerged the winner. Legal Metrology Deputy Controller M Safiya served as the Returning Officer.

In Ward No. 2, the BJP fielded a weak candidate against Gopi. In return, in Ward No. 6, a BJP sympathiser was fielded as a UDF independent candidate. There had been an understanding between the UDF and the BJP in Kumarakom even before the election.