Twenty20, the Kitex Group-backed political outfit, joining the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has brought the power dynamics in the Vadavucode-Puthencruz panchayat in the Kunnathunadu Assembly constituency of Ernakulam district into sharp focus.
In the 17-member panchayat, the United Democratic Front (UDF), with 7 members, pipped the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which had emerged as the single largest bloc with 8 members, thanks to the support of two Twenty20 members. With Twenty20 now joining the NDA, the UDF finds itself in the unenviable position of effectively remaining in power with the backing of the NDA.
The CPI(M) was quick to highlight this and demanded that the Congress relinquish power, while the Congress and Twenty20 struck divergent positions but effectively preferred maintaining the status quo.
Reji Thomas, who was elected panchayat president with the support of Twenty20, remains unperturbed. He said that, as in any election, he had sought votes from all, and the Twenty20 members chose to support him. “The Congress guidelines prohibited coming to power with the support of CPI(M), the BJP, or the SDPI. Even the support of the CPI was permissible,” Mr. Thomas explained. When pointed out that Twenty20 has now become part of the BJP-led NDA, he downplayed it, arguing that all alliances consist of multiple constituents.
