The Congress party’s decision to withhold candidate announcements for two divisions — Cheralayi and Ravipuram — has set the rumour mill in motion, while the party now faces the prospect of the first potential rebel candidacy of this election season in Girinagar.
The name of dissident six-time BJP councillor Shyamala S. Prabhu has been circulating in connection with Cheralayi, a ward she represented from the late 1980s until 2020. However, Ms. Prabhu, who has announced her decision to contest as an Independent after being excluded from the BJP’s initial list released on Wednesday, denied any association with the UDF.
“Earlier, a few members of the UDF had broached the idea, which I rejected outright. I have no idea who is spreading these rumours. My decision to contest as an Independent, without the backing of any political front, remains unchanged,” Ms. Prabhu said. Despite assurances from the BJP leadership that her claim would be considered favourably, she was ultimately sidelined as the party named another candidate from the ward in its first list.
Ms. Prabhu said that the party did not even extend the courtesy of informing her about the decision. The veteran leader convened a meeting of her close associates at her residence on Thursday evening to officially communicate her decision to contest as an Independent and to seek their feedback.
