KOCHI: Putting an end to the weeklong uncertainty over the governance in Thrikkakara municipality, the no-confidence motion moved by the LDF against municipality chairperson Ajitha Thankappan on Thursday failed due to lack of quorum.
It required 22 votes to pass the no-confidence motion. But only 18 councillors of the opposition LDF turned up to vote. UDF councillors stayed away from voting.
LDF moved the no-confidence motion after the Onam kit gift row erupted against Thankappan last month.
“The district Congress committee (DCC) managed to settle the displeasure among certain Congress councillors. They were given assurance that Thankappan would be replaced from the chairperson’s post. If the DCC is not ready to do so, the Congress councillors would support us if we move another no-confidence motion against the chairperson after six months,” said a LDF councillor.
A UDF councillor said the party could sail through the test thanks to the support of all 25 councillors. He acknowledged that there were complaints that meetings were not held with all UDF councillors over many matters. “The question of replacing Thankappan has not been raised in any circumstances,” he said.
However, Thankappan told the media soon after the no-confidence motion failed to pass, that she would act according to the DCC directive.
