I am proud of what I could do, says Beena Philip

“I have done my best, and people have realised it. Everything else is nothing but an election stunt,” Beena Philip, the outgoing Mayor of Kozhikode, could not hide her disappointment as she opened up on the last five years within the Mayor’s mantle and the end result.

A retired teacher, Ms. Philip has carved a place for herself in the political history of the civic body through her knowledgeable and approachable demeanour. As she steps down after an eventful term, she expressed mixed feelings about her tenure. “I am proud of what I was able to do, but at times I feel I could have done more. I am fortunate that the Corporation earned a good name during my tenure,” she said.

Ms. Philip represented the Pottammal division of the Kozhikode Corporation, which the CPI(M) lost to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the recent local body polls. She said the narrative suggesting that the loss was her responsibility was a matter of concern. “Some people believe false stories circulated on social media. But I must say the party workers did their best. We were probably a little overconfident,” she said, referring to the setback faced by the Left parties in the elections.

She spoke highly of Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed, whose defeat in the Meenchanda division became a widely discussed issue, particularly as he was the projected mayoral candidate. “I was impressed by Musafar’s mature handling of several issues, especially the shifting of the Palayam market to Kalluthankadavu. He dealt calmly with traders who opposed the move. I believe some were intimidated by his calibre and therefore targeted him. There is no substance in the allegations against him,” she said.

Ms. Philip said she plans to take a brief break from politics. She declined to comment on speculation that she could be an LDF candidate in the next Assembly elections. “I would rather stay away from power for now. Being an MLA involves a great deal of responsibility. I need time to update myself before taking on any new role,” she said.