Three emerge as probable chairperson candidates in Aluva municipality

At least three councillors are in the race for the chairperson’s post in Aluva municipality where the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has won a clear majority of 16 out of 26 seats in the recent local body elections.

The names of Saiji Jolly, the deputy chairperson in the outgoing council, and Lisa Johnson, the chairperson of the standing committee for public works, are among the probables for the top post along with Saniya Thomas, a two-time councillor, Congress sources said. The chairperson’s post has been reserved for women this time.

The party was yet to initiate formal talks on the matter. It is awaiting the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to issue the norms for the selection of chairpersons and deputy chairpersons, a senior Congress leader from Aluva said. Party sources, meanwhile, said the local leadership will be holding consultations to reach a consensus in the next few days. The new council is likely to take oath on December 21. All the UDF councillors belong to the Congress in the municipality.

Ms. Jolly and Ms. Johnson have been on the council for the past three terms. The name of 35-year-old Ms. Thomas has cropped up as a potential contender in case the party goes for a youth to take the mantle in the municipality. Another second-time councillor, Lalitha Ganeshan’s name is also doing the rounds as a potential contender.

“Seniority will be one of the key parametres this time,” a key Congress leader in Aluva said.

Fassil Hussain, the chairperson of education, arts and sports standing committee, is considered as the frontrunner for the deputy chairperson’s position. The LDF has six councillors, including four backed by the front, and NDA four in Aluva municipality.