THRISSUR: Minister C.N. Balakrishnan has scotched speculations that he had sought the BJP support to form a UDF council in the Thrissur corporation and make his daughter, C.B. Geetha, the mayor.
“The UDF would remain in the Opposition as per the verdict of the people,” he said. “In the 55-member corporation council, the UDF has only 21 seats and we will remain in the Opposition in view of the verdict. I have not approached anyone seeking support for my daughter and there is no point in dragging her into a controversy. I own up the responsibility for the UDF defeat and will look into the reasons for it,” he told reporters on Monday.
Speculations were rife after two councillors, who won as Congress rebels, held consultations with Mr Balakrishnan. There were reports that he would reach out to the BJP to get the support of its six councillors.
KPCC general secretary V. Balaram, ‘I’ group leader, and MLA P.A. Madahavan of the ‘A’ group, said there wou-ld not be a UDF council in the corporation with BJP support.
KPCC president V.M. Sudh-eeran also told the media in Thiruvanathapuram that the Congress would have no truck with either the BJP or the CPM in the local bodies.
Mr Madhavan lashed out at C.N. alleging that the method he employed to install his daughter as the mayoral candidate had backfired.
BJP president A. Nagesh told DC that none in the Congress had approached his party and that there was no question of the BJP extending support to either the UDF or the LDF. With the support of one LDF rebel, the front has now the backing of 26 councillors which is two short of majority.
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