The formation of crucial standing committees in the Kalamassery municipality hit an unexpected roadblock on Tuesday. The entire election process was stalled after councillors from the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) failed to submit their nomination papers within the officially stipulated deadline.
A Costly Five-Minute Delay
Officials overseeing the election confirmed that the schedule clearly mandated that all nominations must be submitted by 10:45 am. However, the UDF councillors arrived with their papers only around 10:50 am, a delay of a mere five minutes past the cutoff time. This minor but critical lapse meant their nominations could not be accepted, bringing the scheduled elections to an abrupt halt.
In contrast, nominations filed by all 13 councillors belonging to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) were accepted as they were submitted on time. The Kalamassery municipal council has a total strength of 46 councillors, with the UDF holding a commanding majority of 30 seats. The LDF has 13, while there are 2 independents and 1 BJP representative.
Confusion Over Deadline and Practical Difficulties
Municipality chairperson Jamal Manakkadan commented on the situation, pointing to a potential source of confusion. He stated that in most other municipalities, the standard deadline for submitting nominations is 11:00 am. The specific 10:45 am deadline set for Kalamassery caused practical difficulties and inconvenience for the councillors, leading to the missed submission.
Despite holding a clear majority, the UDF's delay has temporarily disrupted its own ability to formally constitute the standing committees, which are vital for the municipality's day-to-day administrative functions. The process is now expected to be completed on Wednesday, after considering the pending nominations.
Contrasting Scene in Muvattupuzha
While Kalamassery faced a stalemate, elections to standing committees proceeded smoothly in the Muvattupuzha municipality on the same day. There, the UDF emerged victorious across all 6 standing committees. It is noteworthy that voting was conducted only for the finance standing committee, with other committees likely formed through consensus or uncontested wins.
The election to determine the chairpersons for the various standing committees in Kalamassery is scheduled to be held on January 14. All eyes will now be on Wednesday's proceedings to see if the process can be completed without further issues.
