Congress asks IUML to relinquish Opposition leader post in Kozhikode Corporation

Determined to salvage its wounded pride, the Congress has formally asked the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) to relinquish the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Kozhikode Corporation, a move its leadership believes will also quell the simmering factional fight in the party’s city unit.

Despite both parties having an equal share of 14 seats each within the United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition, the Congress not only found itself in a humiliating position of having no chairmanship of any standing committee in the hung council but was also politically eclipsed by its assertive partner in the district after the three-tier local body polls held in December.

Now the Congress is set to appoint Manakkal Sasi, representing Mankavu division, as the new Opposition leader. “Both the Congress and the IUML have reached an agreement. As Mr. Sasi has already been elected Congress Parliamentary Party leader, he will become Leader of the Opposition in a month,” said a senior party functionary.

The demand to reclaim the post follows a pre-arranged pact to split the term into two-and-a-half-year stints. Interestingly, while a dedicated office cabin is traditionally provided in the Corporation building, the post of ‘Leader of the Opposition’ is not technically an official position under the Kerala Municipal Rules. However, it has symbolic authority and political visibility. Earlier, the IUML had nominated Areekkad councillor S.V. Syed Muhammed Shameel to the post.

With 28 councillors, the UDF was hoping to bag the chairpersonship of two standing committees. While IUML nominee Kavitha Arun was elected chairperson of the Welfare Standing Committee, the Congress failed to secure the chairperson’s post of the Tax Appeal Standing Committee.

Following a lack of planning during voting in the standing committee elections, the BJP and the UDF ended up with equal votes in the Tax Appeal Standing Committee, and the chairperson’s post went to the BJP through a draw of lots. As a result, the Congress was left without any key position in the civic body.

Party sources said that the transition was also deftly employed to manage the rivalry between former District Congress Committee president K.C. Abu and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary P.M. Niyas. The internal rift reached a turning point after the shocking defeat of Mr. Niyas, the UDF’s projected mayoral candidate in the Paroppady division.

The party has decided to bypass K.C. Shobitha, daughter of Mr. Abu and a former Leader of the Opposition. Ms. Shobitha, former Paroppady councillor and present Malaparamba councillor and her father face serious allegations of pulling the rug from under Mr. Niyas during the election.

Meanwhile, a section within the IUML maintains that the Congress’ failure to secure victory in the standing committee elections was a result of infighting in that party. “A final decision on returning the post will be taken after further discussions,” said an IUML district leader.