Pala (Kottayam): Maya Rahul has taken charge as the chairperson of the Pala Municipality with the support of Congress rebels and the Left Democratic Front (LDF), marking her second political revenge against the Congress party after being denied an election ticket.

A double blow to Congress

This marks the second instance where Maya Rahul has outmanoeuvred the Congress party. After being denied a candidate ticket by Congress, she contested the municipal elections as a rebel candidate and won. To gain control of the municipality, Congress was forced to seek her backing and concede the vice-chairperson post to her.

Under an initial power-sharing agreement, Maya Rahul was slated to resign after six months in June to make way for councilor Binu Pulikkakandam, father of former Chairperson Diya Pulikkakandam. However, internal conflict ultimately led to Diya's removal instead.

The Kottaramattam controversy 

The political crisis originated over an unauthorised auto-rickshaw stand established behind the Kottaramattam bus stand building, where Congress councillor Biju Mathews' support for the auto stand provoked members of the Independent Alliance.

During a subsequent UDF Parliamentary Party meeting, a physical altercation allegedly took place, leading Biju Mathews to file a police complaint accusing Independent Alliance leaders Binu Pulikkakandam and Biju Pulikkakandam of assaulting him, an allegation both strongly denied.

In response, chairperson Diya Pulikkakandam lodged a counter-complaint with the police against Biju Mathews, accusing him of stealing key files from her office during a police inspection. Tensions escalated further when the municipality granted permission for the Kottaramattam bus stand grounds to be used for the DYFI District Conference, sparking allegations from Congress members that this was part of a secret pact between the Independent Alliance and the CPM.
Ouster and realignment

Following public declarations of no confidence in the chairperson, local Congress leaders and councilors withdrew their support without intervention from district party leadership.

The LDF subsequently submitted a notice for a no-confidence motion against chairperson Diya Pulikkakandam. Defying the party whip, four Congress councilors alongside rebel member Maya Rahul voted with the LDF in favour of the motion, resulting in its passage and removing Diya Pulikkakandam from the chairperson post after just seven months in office.

Following the no-confidence vote, Maya Rahul was elected chairperson of the Pala Municipality with the combined backing of the LDF, and Congress rebels. Meanwhile, one of the four rebel Congress members, Lissykutty Mathew, who was previously considered for the top post, has since returned to the official Congress fold.