Stalemate in Pala Municipality: Congress withdraws support for Pulickakandam family

Pala (Kerala): A major crisis has hit the UDF-Independent alliance governing the Pala Municipality after the Congress party decided to withdraw its support for the Independent group. The Congress passed a resolution to revoke the support it had been extending to the Independent Pulickakandam family. The decision was taken by the Congress mandalam committee, which stated that safeguarding self-respect is more vital than remaining in power.

Tensions within the ruling alliance had recently escalated over a controversial decision to hand over the Municipality’s Kottaramattom Bus Stand for a DYFI district conference. Congress members alleged that the Independent members of the ruling front, including the Municipal chairperson, had actively colluded with the Left's move. Consequently, Congress members had staged a walkout during a council meeting called to debate the matter, declaring that they could no longer cooperate with the Independent faction in running the local body.

Following the municipal election, neither the LDF nor the UDF had managed to secure an absolute majority. It was under these circumstances that Binu Pulickakandam, his daughter Diya Binu Pulickakandham and Binu's brother Biju Pulickakandam, all of whom won as Independent candidates, extended their support to the UDF. As part of the pact, the Chairperson's post was allocated to Diya for the initial term.

In the 26-member municipality, the LDF holds 11 seats, while the UDF has 10.

Aside from Biju, Binu and Diya, two other Independent candidates had won, including Maya Rahul, a Congress rebel. With the backing of the Pulickakandam family and Maya, the UDF's strength rose to 14, enabling the coalition to seize control of the local body. The current withdrawal of support now leaves the administration in a deadlock.