Twenty20’s NDA entry puts Congress in a bind at Vadavucode-Puthencruz panchayat

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.

Ernakulam District Congress president Muhammed Shiyas stated that there was no need for any change in the panchayat, claiming that not only the two Twenty20 members in Vadavucode-Puthencruz but also in other panchayats where the party holds power would align with the Congress. He was non-committal when asked about the possibility of Twenty20 members facing defection charges if they ignored a party whip during a potential no-confidence motion in the future.

Twenty 20 members unavailable

Siji Baiju and K.M. Divya, the Twenty20 members in the panchayat, were not available for comment.

Twenty20 maintained that it was up to the UDF to decide whether to remain in power in the panchayat or step down. “The decision to vote in favour of the UDF was deliberate, as we wanted to keep the LDF out of power after they had ruined the panchayat during their more than a decade-long rule. Our votes in favour of the UDF cannot be undone now. So, it is for the UDF to decide whether to remain in power or resign,” said V. Gopakumar, vice president of Twenty20.

CPI(M) district secretary S. Satish demanded that the Congress clarify its position in light of the new development. “The Congress should make public whether it will continue to remain in power with the support of Twenty20, which is now in the NDA camp, or resign and seek a fresh mandate,” he said.