Kerala local body polls: Agali panchayat president quits after Congress threatens legal action over election with LDF support

Congress member and Agali panchayat president NK Manju resigned from office on Monday morning, just two days after assuming office with the support of the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

Ms. Manju, who was elected from Agali panchayat’s Chinnaparamba ward (No. 20) on the Congress symbol, became president on Saturday with the support of nine LDF members, drawing the ire of the United Democratic Front (UDF).

On Monday morning, he became the first head of a civic body in the state to resign after Congress decided to take legal action against him under the anti-defection law.

The Congress has already approached the State Election Commission (SEC) seeking his disqualification.

Immediately after her resignation, Ms. Manju said that she would continue as a Congress worker. He said that LDF members supported him when his name was suggested for the Presidential post and he did not want that support.

Earlier, Ms. Manju had alleged that she was not given any party whip and received votes outside party lines in the election of the panchayat president.

The Agali panchayat in Attappady was under LDF for the last 10 years. In the last elections, LDF got nine seats and BJP got two seats while UDF got 10 seats.

The UDF had decided to nominate Sibu Cyriac for the president’s post, but the plan was foiled when Ms. Manju was elected with LDF support and the Congress started approaching the SEC for her disqualification under the anti-defection law.