The city district committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has submitted to the Kerala State leadership a list of three names – P.L. Babu, Radhika Varma, and Sreekuttan Thundathil – as potential candidates for the post of chairperson of Tripunithura municipality in Kerala which returned a hung verdict in the recent local body polls, with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerging as the single largest bloc.
The NDA is likely to assume control of the municipality after the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) publicly ruled out, at least for now, joining hands to keep the saffron party out of power. In the 53-member municipality, the NDA secured 21 seats, the LDF 20, and the UDF 12. This is the first time ever the BJP has emerged as the single largest party in a municipality in Ernakulam district.
NDA poised to rule Thripunithura as LDF, UDF rule out tie-up
For Mr. Babu, who won from the Valiyathara ward, this marks his second stint as councillor, while Ms. Varma, elected from the Ambalam ward, is a three-time councillor. Mr. Thundathil registered his maiden victory from the Pereekkadu ward this time after unsuccessfully contesting a decade ago. Mr. Babu currently serves as general secretary of the BJP central zone, Ms. Varma is a member of the BJP State Council, and Mr. Thundathil is general secretary of the party’s city district committee.
