Kochi: Ending ten days of political uncertainty, 44-year-old Soumini Jain was elected the mayor of Kochi on Wednesday. Mrs Jain defeated LDF’s Dr Poornima Narayan 41-30. She is the port city’s second woman mayor after Prof Mercy Williams (2005-2010).
There was no upsets or crossvoting. Two LDF rebels, T.K. Shamsudeen and Zeenat Rasheed, and Congress rebel Geetha Prabhakaran voted for Ms. Jain. Two BJP councillors, Shyamala S. Prabhu and Sudha Dileep Kumar, and independent K.H. Preethi abstained.
The UDF has a simple majority in the council with the Congress alone having 35 members. District collector M.G. Rajamanickam, the returning officer, administered the oath to Ms. Jain, who was a standing committee (works) chairperson of the previous Congress-led council.
IUML's P.M. Harris proposed her name and V.K. Minimol seconded it. Sunila Selvan proposed the name of Ms Narayan which was seconded by Sunitha Ashraf.
Congress member T.J. Vinod became the deputy mayor secured 40 votes against 31 votes LDF’s K.J. Antony bagged. Ms Rasheed’s vote also went to Mr Antony. Mr Vinod’s name was proposed by P.J. Joseph and seconded by Grace Babu Jacob.
A second-time member Ms Jain has a postgraduate degree in economics. She defeated LDF candidate Prof Nirmala in Elamkulam division this time. She represented Ravipuram during 2010–2015.
Corporation secretary V.R. Raju and additional secretary A.S. Anuja coordinated the election process. Legislators Hibi Eden, Benny Behanan, Dominic Presentation, Ludy Louis and former mayor Tony Chammany were present at the ceremony.
Opposition promises support to Kochi Mayor
The Opposition in the Kochi Corporation council has extended all support to newly-elected Mayor Soumini Jain in carrying out the programmes for the comprehensive development of the city.
While congratulating Ms. Jain after the swearing-in ceremony, Dr. Poornima Narayan, LDF contender for the Mayor post, said: “Though we will be working together for the city’s development initiatives, any move from the ruling bench against the people’s interest would be opposed.”
Another senior Opposition councillor K.J. Antony offered full support to the new Mayor and the team for all development activities.
“We are in favour of development-oriented politics and will have a creative approach for the city’s development programmes. However, the Mayor should ensure maximum transparency in administrative activities,” he said.
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