Kerala Cong (Joseph) opposes proposal for new Muvattupuzha district

The Kerala Congress (Joseph) faction has opposed a proposal to form a new Muvattupuzha district by including Thodupuzha, with Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph saying on Saturday that the issue has no relevance at present.

Recently, at an event in Muvattupuzha, Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan urged Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan to consider forming a new district comprising parts of Ernakulam, Idukki and Kottayam districts.

Mr. Satheesan, in his reply, said the request would be considered and that the government would appoint a Delimitation Commission.

The proposal, however, has been opposed by the Kerala Congress (Joseph) faction, which has a strong presence in Thodupuzha, currently part of Idukki district.

Kerala Congress (Joseph) is a key constituent of UDF.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Joseph said removing Thodupuzha from Idukki would amount to “tearing away the very soul and heart of Idukki district”.

He said party chairman P. J. Joseph had opposed the proposal when it was first raised.

“Earlier, when former Muvattupuzha MLA Joseph Vazhackan raised this issue in the Assembly, it was discussed and dropped as an abandoned matter,” he said.

Mr. Joseph said there was no objection to examining whether there was any possibility of reconsidering the proposal, but such a matter should not be discussed on a public platform.

He said the MLA had the right to submit a proposal to the Chief Minister and the Chief Mnister had the right to respond to it.

“However, all these matters must be examined in detail by the UDF leadership and the State-level UDF committee. When it is discussed in the UDF, the Kerala Congress will state its opinion. At present, this issue has no relevance,” Mr. Joseph said.

Muvattupuzha is part of the Ernakulam district, located on the eastern side, close to Idukki district.

Earlier, Mr. Kuzhalnadan had said that a Muvattupuzha district is necessary for the development of the region, as the funds granted to the Ernakulam district mostly concentrate on urban development, including Kochi city.