Another round of drama seems to be in the making at Koothattukulam municipality in Ernakulam district as the United Democratic Front (UDF) has fielded Kala Raju, Commuist Party of India (Marxist) councillor who crossed over and voted in favour of the no-confidence motion moved by the UDF, thus dislodging the Left Democratic Front (LDF) from power earlier this month.
The UDF Parliamentary party meeting attended by Anoop Jacob, MLA and District Congress Committee president Muhammed Shiyas on Wednesday August 27, 2025) decided to field Ms. Raju and independent candidate P.G. Sunilkumar as chairperson and vice-chairperson candidates respectively.
LDF chairperson Vijaya Sivan and vice-chairperson Sunny Kuriakose were voted out after these two voted in favour of the no-confidence motion triggering an upheaval and reducing the LDF to a minority in the 25-member house on August 5, 2025. The LDF Parliamentary party will meet to decide the chairperson and vice-chairperson candidates today evening (August 28, 2025).
Ms. Raju has been at loggerheads with the CPI(M) and effectively with the UDF ever since she was allegedly abducted by CPI(M) activists while she was on her way to cast her vote on in a no-confidence motion against the then LDF chairperson on January 18, 2025. It was suspected that she might vote in favour of the motion moved by the Opposition UDF, which she eventually did earlier this month ending an already fractured relation between Ms. Raju and the CPI(M).
Day-long drama was played out in Koothattukulam on the day the CPI(M) was voted out. Mathew Kuzhalnadan, Congress MLA representing the Muvattupuzha Assembly constituency, dubbed LDF’s defeat as a befitting reply to “the murder of democracy” carried out by it on January 18 while Mr. Shiyas hailed it as a blow to the Left front that had “used its power to curb voices of dissent.”
Mr. Kuriakose, who was voted out as vice-chairperson, accused the UDF of horse-trading to oust the Left front from power even as he rejected the allegations of abduction and assault raised against the party by Ms. Raju. She sought to remind her that she was elected as councillor by contesting in the party symbol.
Published – August 28, 2025 03:49 pm IST
