Discussions gather momentum in Congress over District Panchayat heads

With only days left for newly elected local body chiefs to assume office, intense behind the scenes manoeuvring is under way within the Congress over the selection of the Pathanamthitta District Panchayat president. Despite securing a brute majority, the party is grappling with competing claims, with indications pointing towards a power sharing arrangement among its women members.

In the 17 member District Panchayat, the Congress holds 10 seats. The challenge before the party leadership, however, is not numerical strength but the task of choosing one candidate from them.

Of the six women UDF members in the newly elected council, all but one bring prior experience in local governance. A few, notably Stella Thomas and Deenamma Roy, are also seen as strong organisational hands, making the leadership’s dilemma sharper and the negotiations more delicate.

Party sources say organisational capability and prior experience in local self government will weigh heavily in the decision. With Assembly elections on the horizon, social and community balance is also expected to influence the final call.

This will be the fourth occasion since the introduction of the three tier panchayat system in 1995 that the District Panchayat president’s post has been reserved for women.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Congress is expected to stake its claim to the vice president’s post while the Congress sources indicate that the party is keen on retaining the position as well.

“If the competing claims intensify, a power sharing arrangement between the president and vice president posts may become unavoidable. A term sharing formula of two-and-a-half years each is also being discussed,” said a senior Congress leader in Pathanamthitta.

Besides the District Panchayat, women will dominate leadership positions across the district’s municipalities as well. All four municipalities will have women chairpersons this term. Adoor, Pathanamthitta and Pandalam have moved from the general category to women’s reservation, while Thiruvalla, previously reserved for women, is now reserved for Scheduled Caste women.

The UDF enjoys a clear majority in Pathanamthitta and Adoor municipalities. In Thiruvalla, despite falling short of an absolute majority, the UDF, as the largest bloc, is expected to install a chairperson from the Scheduled Caste women category. In Pandalam municipality, where the LDF has secured a majority, the chairperson will be decided by the CPI(M) district secretariat.

Women will also head the Mallappally, Ranni and Parakkode Block Panchayats this term, while the president’s post at the Ilanthoor Block Panchayat president’s post is reserved for a Scheduled Caste woman. At the grassroots level, 27 of the 53 grama panchayats in the district will have women presidents through reservation.