UDF loses power in Koppam panchayath; gets chairperson post in Piravom Municipality

Pattambi/ Piravom: UDF lost its rule in Koppam panchayath in Palakkad after the passing of a no-confidence motion moved by the LDF. 

LDF came back to power when Congress member Shafeeq voted in favour of the left alliance in an election held on Wednesday morning. The LDF rose to power by bagging nine votes in opposition to the seven votes secured by its opponent. The lone BJP member abstained from voting. 

It should be noted that a no-confidence motion was moved against LDF president Abdul Azeez for allegedly establishing unholy ties with the BJP.

Koppam panchayat has 17 wards in total. While LDF and UDF possess eight members each, BJP has only a single member. In the previous local body elections, the president and vice-president of the panchayat were elected through a draw of lots. In the process, LDF won the president post, and a UDF member was awarded the position of vice president. However, in April 2022, a no-confidence motion was moved against president T Unnikrishnan who was a member of the CPM. The UDF move was supported by the BJP as well. However, the BJP candidate had abstained from voting in the presidential election. Following this, MC Abdul Azeez, who was a member of the Muslim League was elected as the president.    

Meanwhile, in Piravom Municipality, UDF got a chairperson post as an LDF member's vote became invalid. The vote became invalid as the ballot overleaf did not have a name and sign. The election was necessitated as the CPI-CPM agreement over the chairperson post for two years was completed. The municipality has 27 wards in total. LDF (CPI, CPM) had 14 seats and UDF possessed 13 seats. As the LDF vote was invalidated, the chairperson's post was decided by lot method.