Kochi: The Maradu municipality on Thursday witnessed dramatic scenes as Congress leader Antony Ashanparambil resigned from the post of vice-chairman.
In the 33-member municipal council, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has the support of 17 councillors, including two independents. However, the Vice Chairman post was held by the UDF candidate. Sources said the decision to vacate the post is as per a previous agreement arrived at with the UDF rebels -- Boban Nedumbarambil and Jabbar Pappana -- at the time of election to the chairperson's post earlier. Now one of the two is expected to take charge of the post for the remaining period of the current council.
However, when contacted Antony Ashanparambil, who is facing charges for alleged abduction and assault of a businessman based in Netoor, denied the same and said his resignation is a mark of protest against the local Congress leadership which is now backing the complainant. “He had filed a false case against me but some of the local Congress leadership is now backing him. They included him during the protest march against Minister of Power M M Mani issue held two days back. I thought there is now point in continuing the post while they are stabbing you at your back,” he told DC.
In November last, INTUC activist M M Shukkoor had won a contract for removing sludge and debris from the construction site of a private company. Asanparambil allegedly threatened Shukkoor to give up the contract. According to Shukoor’s petition Asanparambil and his goons kidnapped and assaulted him when he refused to heed the direction. Police registered a case on this petition and subsequently arrested Asanparambil who was remanded and later released on bail. The case, which has Asanaprambil as the main accused and another councillor Jinson Peter the second accused, is now pending trial.
The LDF and the UDF had secured 15 seats each in the election held in November 2014. Two UDF rebels and an independent also won the race. The UDF managed to win the support of rebels Boban and Jabbar at the time of election to the chairperson's post. They were offered the post of vice-president for two-and-a-half years each. LDF had fielded independent Divya Anil Kumar as their candidate. However, the UDF candidate Ajitha Nandakumar resigned in May last year and independent candidate Divya Anilkumar became the chairperson with the backing of LDF members.
