Congress member and Agali panchayat president N.K. Manju resigned from the post on Monday morning, just two days after assuming office with the support of the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
Elected from Chinnaparamba ward (No. 20) of Agali panchayat on the Congress symbol, Ms. Manju became president on Saturday with the support of nine LDF members, drawing the ire of the United Democratic Front (UDF).
On Monday morning, she became the first civic body president in the State to step down after the Congress decided to initiate legal proceedings against her under the anti-defection law.
The Congress has already approached the State Election Commission (SEC) seeking her disqualification.
Soon after her resignation, Ms. Manju said she would continue as a Congress worker. She said that LDF members had supported her when her name was proposed for the president’s post, and that she did not want that support.
Earlier, Ms. Manju had maintained that she was not issued any party whip and that she secured votes in the panchayat president’s election across party lines.
Agali panchayat in Attappady was with the LDF for the past 10 years. In the recent elections, UDF secured 10 seats when the LDF got nine and the BJP two.
The UDF had decided to nominate Sibu Cyriac for the president’s post, but the plan was upset when Ms. Manju was elected with LDF support, prompting the Congress to approach the SEC seeking her disqualification under the anti-defection law.
Published – December 29, 2025 01:38 pm IST
