Twenty20 loses Poothrikka panchayat as president quits over NDA entry

In a major setback just three days ahead of the Assembly election, Twenty20 lost power in Poothrikka panchayat after Pooja Jomon resigned both as president and as a member in protest against the party’s decision to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while also accusing party president Sabu M. Jacob of issuing her a veiled death threat.

Mr. Jacob dismissed the charge as baseless and alleged that she had entered into a “deal” with the Congress last month to clear her debts. He described her claim that Twenty20’s entry into the NDA prompted her resignation as a mere eyewash.

“The decision to resign was in protest against Twenty20 joining the NDA. Besides, anticipating my resignation, the party president summoned me and issued an indirect death threat,” said Ms. Jomon, a first-time member who announced her resignation at a press conference. Reportedly, she had stayed away from NDA events, including the visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ernakulam and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Kolancherry in the Kunnathunad Assembly constituency, of which Poothrikka is a part, on Sunday.

Poothrikka was one of the four panchayats where Twenty20 secured power in Ernakulam district. However, Ms. Jomon was elected president in a draw of lots after the party and the UDF tied at seven members each, while the LDF had only two. The UDF later struck an understanding with the LDF to gain control of all four standing committees, keeping Twenty20 out. In the president’s election, the LDF abstained, necessitating the draw of lots.

Mr. Jacob alleged that the deal between Ms. Jomon and the UDF to clear her debts of ₹7 lakh and an additional ₹5 lakh was struck on March 27. “Following this, I spoke to all our seven elected members, including Ms. Jomon, the very next day warning them against entering into any such deal betraying the electorate who voted for them,” he said. Later at a press conference, Mr. Jacob accused the Congress of attempting to sabotage the election using money. He also released a couple of audio clips in which a person could be heard predicting the resgination of Ms. Jomon over an alleged deal with the Congress.

Charges baseless: UDF

The UDF, however, dismissed the allegation as baseless. “She was being harassed by Twenty20 for not participating in NDA events. Reportedly, the party had also suspended her salary, which the party’s elected members were entitled to over and above the statutory honorarium. Yet she remained steadfast in her anti-communal position,” said John Joseph, Congress’s panchayat vice-president.

Ms. Jomon’s resignation as member has necessitated a by-election. The possibility of the Congress fielding her as its candidate cannot be ruled out, as the party claimed she had associated with it in the past.

Cracks had already appeared in Twenty20’s dominance in its sphere of influence during the last local body polls. While it retained four panchayats overall, it lost Kunnathunad and Mazhuvannoor to the UDF. Though it wrested Thiruvaniyoor and Poothrikka, the sweep was less emphatic than in 2020. Even in Kizhakkambalam, considered its impregnable bastion, the party lost several seats.