India's youngest municipal chairperson Diya Binu voted out in Kerala
India's youngest municipal chairperson, 21-year-old Diya Binu, lost office on Tuesday after a no-confidence motion against her was passed in Kerala's Pala Municipality. The motion
India's youngest municipal chairperson, 21-year-old Diya Binu, lost office on Tuesday after a no-confidence motion against her was passed in Kerala's Pala Municipality. The motion was moved by the LDF and backed by rebel Congress councillors, bringing the UDF's rule in the civic body to an end. The motion was passed with 17 votes in the 26-member council, above the required 14. The result exposed divisions within the ruling combine and dealt a political setback to the Congress-led UDF.
Read Full Story Four Congress councillors and Vice Chairperson Maya Rahul voted in favour of the motion. All 17 councillors who attended the meeting supported the motion during the discussion and later voted for it. ASSUMED OFFICE WITH UDF SUPPORT Diya had assumed office after the UDF extended support to the three-member independent bloc led by her following the civic polls. She then became the country's youngest municipal chairperson. A graduate in Economics from Madras Christian College, Diya had been preparing for higher studies when she was fielded in the municipal election.
Her father, Binu Pulikkandam, and his brother, Biju, were also elected, helping form the three-member independent bloc. Relations between the independent group and the Congress had worsened in recent months, leading to a split within the ruling front. The LDF then moved the no-confidence motion, taking advantage of the political differences. Reacting to her removal, Diya said she accepted the democratic verdict with "full respect". She said the no-confidence motion did not contain any allegations of corruption, misuse of public funds, bribery, nepotism, violation of government orders or any illegal act against her.
"Those who moved and supported the motion could not raise or establish even a single factual allegation against me," she added. With the motion passed by 17 votes, Diya's tenure in Pala Municipality ended after support from Congress rebels helped the LDF unseat her and finish the UDF's rule in the civic body. Ends
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