The dissent within the Congress in Kerala over the selection of mayoral candidates in the Kochi Corporation has intensified, with a section of Congress leaders in Ernakulam district protesting strongly against the decision to deny the post of mayor to Deepti Mary Varghese, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary, who was widely projected as the party’s mayoral face.
Congress leader Ajay Tharayil has strongly criticised the party leadership for not considering Deepthi Mary Varghese for the post of Kochi Corporation Mayor. He alleged that the candidates for mayor and deputy mayor were selected without meeting the core committee.
Ajay Tharayil criticised DCC President Muhammed Shiyas for acting unilaterally as a group leader. He added that the action of having ignored someone who reached the party leadership through continuous struggles cannot be justified on any count.
The Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) on Tuesday announced four-time councillor V K Minimol as its mayoral candidate for the first two-and-a-half years, followed by Shiny Mathew for the remainder of the term. Similarly, the Deputy Mayor’s post will be shared between Deepak Joy, a two-time councillor and Youth Congress all-India coordinator, and KVP Krishnakumar.
KPCC general secretary and two-time councillor Deepthi Mary Varghese, who was overlooked for the mayor’s post alleged on Wednesday that the guidelines laid out in the KPCC circular regarding the selection process have not been followed by the Congress leadership in Ernakulam.
Deepthi said that the criteria laid out in the KPCC circular were not followed in the selection process, as the opinion of Congress councillors was not elicited in a free and fair manner and in the absence of a KPCC observer, as mandated by the circular. She also took a swipe at Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) president Muhammed Shiyas, who claimed that the KPCC circular was a major consideration and had been complied with. “Perhaps he had not read the circular properly and should read it again,” she added.
Meanwhile, KPCC General Secretary MR Abhilash also expressed his dissatisfaction with Deepthi not being considered for the Kochi mayor’s post. He demanded that the opposition leader and the DCC president explain why the KPCC criteria were violated in the selection process. The personal interests of some people were reflected in the mayoral selection, he alleged.