Sheela Stephen elected Idukki district panchayat president

Kerala Congress member Sheela Stephen has been elected as the Idukki district panchayat president. In the election, Ms. Stephen secured 14 votes, while her opponent Thilothama Soman got three votes.

In the 17-member district panchayat, the United Democratic Front (UDF) holds 14 seats, and the Left Democratic Front (LDF), three. For the vice-president post, UDF candidate T.S. Siddique secured 14 votes, defeating the LDF’s T.R. Eeshwaran, who received three votes. The new president took oath of office in the presence of Idukki Collector Dineshan Cheruavatt.

According to UDF leaders, a power-sharing agreement is in place. Ms. Stephen will hold the presidency for one year, while Congress nominee Mini Sabu will hold the post for the remaining four years of the term.

The UDF dominated the block panchayat elections, winning seven out of eight blocks in the district. In the Idukki block, Congress nominee Sandramol Jinny was elected president. She will serve for two years, followed by Tessy Ambattukuzhi for the remaining three years.

In the Kattappana block, K. Balasingh will be president for the next five years. In the Azhutha block congress nominee Bindhu Santhosh Paniker will serve a full five-year term.

In the Elamdesham block, Saji Bhaskaran of Kerala Congress will serve for the first two-and-a-half years, followed by K.K. Ravi (Congress) for the latter half of the term. In the Thodupuaha block, Muhammed Anshad of Congress was elected president for two-and-a-half years, with a Kerala Congress member serving for the remainder of the term.

In the Adimaly block, Congress nominee V.K. Mohanan Nair was elected for the first two-and-a-half years, followed by M.A. Ansari. In the Devikulam block CPI nominee Rajeshwari was elected president. She will serve two-and-a-half years, followed by a CPI(M) member for the remaining years.

Draw of lots

In grama panchayats where seats were tied, the administration was decided by a draw of lots. The LDF secured administration in three panchayats — Manakkad, Rajakumari, and Kokkayar — while the UDF won in Pallivasal panchayat.

KPCC general secretary Ibrahimkutty Kallar said that the results were a major achievement for the UDF. “The Kattappana and Thodupuzha municipalities, the district panchayat, seven block panchayats, and nearly 40 grama panchayats are now under UDF rule,” said Mr Kallar.

DCC president C.P. Mathew urged the newly elected members to focus on efficiency. “Members must ensure that developmental funds do not lapse over the next five years. We must work with a new vision for the district,” he said.