Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan has said that the mayor of Kochi will not be chosen based on caste or religious equations.
During a press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Satheesan said the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Congress were discussing the matter and that the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) would decide the procedure. He said the District Congress Committee president could not take a decision before the KPCC finalised its position. Unlike the CPI(M), the Congress would not impose a mayor from above, and the opinions of councillors would be heard.
Mr. Satheesan’s statement comes in the wake of increasing noise about the perceived indecision over the UDF’s mayoral candidate in Kochi. Three names — Deepthy Mary Varghese, V.K. Minimol, and Shiny Mathew — are being seen as the top contenders for the post. Speculation has been rife that a formula is emerging to appoint a Latin Catholic mayor to appease the community, which is a predominant force in Ernakulam, and to consider a representative from West Kochi, where the UDF did not perform as well as it did in the city areas. Ms. Mathew fits both criteria.
Mr. Satheesan asked the media not to undermine the UDF’s scintillating victory in the Kochi Corporation. Political decisions, including those related to the Tripunithura municipality, would be taken at the State level. In Tripunithura, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, which has emerged as the single largest bloc, will rule unless the UDF and the LDF, which finished third and second respectively, join hands.
He said social media cannot be silenced, as evident from the various comments being made about him, though their intensity has reduced now.
“The mayor will not be chosen based on caste or religious considerations. The party will take a decision only after hearing everyone’s opinions, and that will be a transparent procedure,” Mr. Satheesan said.
Mr. Satheesan dubbed the incident of a Station House Officer attacking a woman at Town North police station as another shocking instance of Kerala Police’s brutality. CCTV footage of the incident, which took place more than a year ago, had emerged on Thursday.
“It took the couple more than a year-long struggle and the intervention of the court to get the CCTV footage released. This incident is similar to the brutal assault on Youth Congress leader Sujith in Thrissur. The disastrous consequences of handing over control of Kerala Police to the Chief Minister’s office and the CPI(M)’s criminal-mafia nexus are now coming to light one by one,” Mr. Satheesan said.
Criminals within the police force must not be allowed to remain in service even for a moment, he said.
