Mayor announcement on Christmas Day? Suspense remains over central leadership's selection

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP is still maintaining suspense over the announcement of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Former DGP R Sreelekha and state secretary V V Rajesh are under consideration. With only a day left for the oath-taking, an official announcement is expected to be made anytime soon.

It is reported that the BJP state leadership will take a crucial decision today. Although the BJP, which is the only party to win 50 out of 100 seats, both LDF and UDF upped the game by fielding their mayoral candidates.

Along with R.Sreelekha and V.V. Rajesh, Karamana Ajith and Simi Jyotish are also under active consideration by the BJP. K.S. Sabarinathan will contest as the UDF mayoral candidate. Mary Pushpa is contesting for the deputy mayor post. R.P. Sivaji, the councillor from Punnakkamugal and district committee member, is the LDF mayoral candidate. Rakhi Ravikumar is the deputy mayor candidate.

In the Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat, where the LDF won a majority, Priyadarshini has been elected as the president and B.P. Murali as the vice president.

There is a dispute in Attingal and Neyyattinkara municipalities over the posts of chairman and vice-chairman. In Attingal, where the LDF won the majority, former chairman M Pradeep, R. Raju and R. S. Anoop are under consideration. In Neyyattinkara, which is reserved for women, former chairperson W. R. Heeba, Ali Fathima, and Manju Rajesh are under consideration. Geetha Hemachandran will be the chairman of Varkala municipality. R. Jadevan will be the chairman of the Nedumangad municipality. The posts of president and vice-president have been almost agreed upon in nine block panchayats, except Chirayinkeezhu and Perumkadavila.