The most unpredictable

The Aluva municipality with 23 councillors, including eight women councillors (six for the LDF and two for the Congress), is presently reigned by the CPM and Independents (14 councillors). The Congress party with nine councillors form the Opposition. With the enhancement of wards to 26, the women’s quota shot up from 7 to 13. The leaders of both the Congress and the LDF are searching for suitable women candidates for the election. The male councillors are on the run to find a winning berth in other wards. This may lead to a clash between veteran councillors of other wards and aspiring party workers residing in the wards, which will have an impact on the election results.

M O John of the Congress who ruled as a chairman for 12 years and vice-chairman for five years in the Aluva Municipal Council is confident of the Congress party recapturing the municipal rule in Aluva in the next election. He said people who suffered during the LDF rule in Aluva Municipality were waiting for a chance to oust them. “Developmental schemes were completely ignored during the last five years under the LDF rule. They failed miserably to protect the Periyar and in streamlining  garbage disposal. Waste water treatment plant, biogas plant in the market, the dilapidated private bus stand, slaughterhouse and trenching yard have become monuments of neglect under the LDF rule in Aluva,” John said.

The Congress party has proposals to solve the garbage problem permanently utilising the Central and the state government schemes assuring the public participation.

V P George, a senior Congress councillor, said there are too many proposals but nothing has materialised so far.

Refuting the allegations levelled against the LDF, vice-chairman V Salim said the municipality under the LDF rule achieved economical stability by clearing debts and arrears made during the previous Congress rule. There were arrears of ` 14-crore and most of the municipal properties, which were pledged for loans, were under the threat of attachment when the LDF took over power.

The documents of the property have been released. The LDF rule achieved remarkable progress in the field of development. ` 1.5 crore was sanctioned for the construction of waste disposal plant in the 4th mile dump yard.

The previous Congress rule had decided to entrust the renovation of the Municipal Market with the BOT scheme. But the LDF rule managed to accumulate funds amounting to ` 2.5 crore for the work.

The Congress policy of receiving huge funds by pledging the property in the name of various projects and spending extravagantly was replaced by enforcing strict financial management and availing funds from the government without any liability.

The conduct of Sivarathri festival celebrations were made more people-friendly and profitable. The municipality succeeded in opening a dialysis unit in the Government Hospital to help poor patients, which is the first of its kind in the state. A dormitory and modern comfort station near the private bus stand were other achievements. All roads have been repaired.

Buildings for eight Anganwadis have been constructed. The people of Aluva will have no hesitation to entrust the municipal rule to the LDF again in the next election, vice-chairman V Salim said.