The CPI(M)’s gamble to field Kozhikode Mayor V.K.C. Mammed Koya from Beypore assembly constituency has paid off. But his exit is apparently giving fresh troubles to the party in choosing a suitable councillor for the post.
Party leaders are getting down to the brass tacks for the selection of the new Mayor. They are on two thoughts - whether to elevate a sitting councillor or bring in a new candidate and make him contest the polls from Arekkad ward, vacated by Mr. Koya.
Already the present council has two former Mayors - Thottathil Raveendran, who was also chairman of Guruvayur Devaswom Board and M.M. Padmavathi, both from the CPI (M). There are many aspirants as well including M. Radhakrishnan and V.K. Baburaj.
Similar predicament
The CPI(M) leadership had faced a similar predicament when the party had nominated A.K. Premajam, former Mayor to successfully contest the Vadakara Lok Sabha polls in 1998.
Then the party had zeroed in on Ms. Padmavathi as the post had been reserved for women.
Party sources said that leadership would arrive at a consensus shortly. Incidentally Mr. Koya’s Mayoral race had helped Muslim consolidation in favour of the LDF.
Many others secretly nurse an ambition to occupy the coveted post. One of them is T.V. Lalitha Prabha, first time councillor and wife of T.P. Dasan, a former Mayor. Some leaders are pushing her candidature, sources said.
Whether the party leaders would consider her is a different question considering the fact that the Deputy Mayor is also a woman. The post reserved for women is now held by Meera Darshak of the CPI(M).
The district leadership is weighing all options including the administrative capability of a councillor especially when the civic body is planning to implement the Amrut (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) project of the Centre. The execution of the schemes will begin this fiscal.
The genial Raveendran has been popular during his five-year tenure. He also had a five-year stint as Deputy Mayor thus giving an advantage over others.
A section of district level leaders, it is learnt is lobbying for Mr. Baburaj, who won from the Athanikkal ward. They say that if he is made Mayor, the party could claim that Mr. Baburaj would be first Dalit Mayor in the State. Conspicuously another lobby is powerfully vying for Mr. Radhakrishnan for the post.
