India's youngest municipal chairperson unseated as no-confidence motion succeeds in Kerala's Pala

Pala, Kerala: Diya Binu Pulikkakandam, India's youngest municipal chairperson, has lost the top post after a no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) was passed in the UDF-ruled Pala municipality on Tuesday.

The motion succeeded after four Congress councillors defied the party whip and voted in favour of the LDF-backed no-confidence motion. Independent councillor Maya Rahul, who was elected as a rebel candidate, also supported the motion.

Congress councillors Lissy Kutty Mathew, Biju Mathews, Tony Thaiparambil and Rajitha Prakash attended the meeting in defiance of the party's directive and backed the motion.

Congress members Riya Cheeramkuzhy and Sebastian Panackal were absent from the meeting.

Cross-voting seals Diya Binu's exit

Three Kerala Congress councillors — Sonia Chittett, Biju Varikkani and Siji Tony — did not attend the meeting after complying with the party whip. Prince Sunny of the Kerala Democratic Party (KDP), led by Mani C Kappan, was also absent.

The political crisis in the municipality had intensified after differences emerged between Diya Binu's independent group, Congress councillors and independent vice-chairperson Maya Rahul, leading to a split within the ruling alliance.

Sensing an opportunity, the LDF moved the no-confidence motion against the chairperson.

Youngest chairperson's tenure ends months after taking office

The 26-member Pala municipality required the support of 14 councillors for the no-confidence motion to pass.

The LDF has 12 members in the council. The motion crossed the required majority after securing the backing of the four Congress rebels and Maya Rahul.

Diya Binu, 21, became India's youngest municipal chairperson after assuming office following the local body elections. Her appointment came after post-election negotiations in the fractured council, with the Pulikkakandam family's independent group extending support to the Congress-led UDF on the condition that she would be elected chairperson.

Her removal marks a dramatic reversal in Pala's political landscape just months after she created history by becoming the country's youngest municipal chairperson.