With just a couple of days left for the election of a new chairperson in Pala municipality, efforts by dissident Congress councillors to cobble together an alliance with the Opposition appears to have hit a roadblock over differences over the vice-chairperson’s post.

The differences came to light after a section of the dissident councillors demanded that an understanding be reached on the vice-chairperson’s post as well. The group also prepared a letter to be submitted to the Kerala Congress (M), which heads the Opposition bloc. However, the other dissident Congress councillors were unwilling to sign the letter.

The Congress rebels had earlier reached a consensus to field incumbent vice-chairperson Maya Rahul for the chairperson’s post. “One of the dissident Congress councillors, Lissikutty Mathew, has expressed her willingness to return to the United Democratic Front, while Biju Mathews is also learnt to be preparing to return, following differences over the vice-chairperson’s post,” sources within the rebel group said.

With both the chairperson and vice-chairperson elections likely to be crucial, a section of the dissident Congress group has taken the position that it will move ahead only after reaching a clear understanding on both posts. As part of the efforts, the group is learnt to have held discussions with the Kerala Congress.

‘No concensus’

Earlier, the dissident Congress group had considered Biju Mathews for the vice-chairperson’s post. “The equation, however, changed abruptly after the Kerala Congress faction pressed its claim to the post. There is no consensus within the rebel group on accepting the demand in return for their support in the chairperson election,” they said.

The District Congress Committee, meanwhile, is proceeding with its plans to seek the disqualification of the four dissident councillors. “A petition seeking their disqualification will be filed on Monday,” a senior Congress leader said.

Even if a couple of the rebel Congress councillors return to the Congress, however, the joint LDF-UDF bloc is unlikely to face an immediate threat in the chairperson election, as it still enjoys a comfortable majority with 15 seats in the 26-member council.

The election has been necessitated by the removal of UDF-backed chairperson Diya Binu Pulikkakandam through a no-confidence motion moved by the LDF on July 2, with the support of four Congress councillors and Maya Rahul. Since then, Ms. Rahul has been functioning as the acting chairperson of the civic body, while the UDF rebels and the LDF jointly function as a bloc.

Published - August 16, 2026 07:04 pm IST