The Hindu 02.11.2010
Municipal councillors sworn in
Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The newly elected councillors of the Attingal municipal council were sworn in on Monday at a ceremony held at the council hall.
As per custom, the eldest councillor G. Babu, 64, was sworn in first at 10 a.m. He was administered the oath of office by returning officer for the municipality N. Satheesan.
Subsequently, Mr. Babu administered the oath of office to the other 30 councillors and later chaired the first meeting of the council.
Attingal municipal secretary K. Harikumar told The Hindu that after a round of self-introduction, the councillors filled the declaration of party affiliation.
The secretary then informed the council that the election to the posts of municipal chairperson and vice-chairperson would be held on November 8 at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.
A notice for these elections, signed by the returning officer, was also given to the councillors, he added.
In Nedumangadu
The newly elected members of the Nedumangadu municipal council were sworn in at the council hall on Monday. The Returning Officer for the municipality administered the oath of office to Subashini of the Pulipara ward. Ms. Subashini then administered the oath to the other 38 members.
The LDF is reported to have made a bid for the control of the council, including the post of chairperson. The front is reported to have secured the support of two rebel LDF candidates. Lekha Suresh of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is tipped to be the next chairperson of the council.
In Varkala
Thirty-three councillors of the Varkala municipal council were sworn in at a ceremony at the municipal council hall on Monday.
N. Gopinadhan Nair was administered the oath by Returning Officer M. Vijayalakshmi at 10 a.m. Mr. Nair then administered the oath to the other 32 councillors.
Later, the newly constituted council met with Mr. Nair on the chair.
The notification for the election to the post of chairman and vice-chairperson was read out at the council. The post of chairman is in the general category and that of the vice-chairperson is reserved for women.
In Neyyattinkara
The newly elected members of the Neyyattinkara municipal council were sworn in at a ceremony at the Neyyattinkara Town Hall on Monday.
P. Balan was administered the oath of office by Returning Officer Mohanan. Mr Balan then administered the oath to the remaining members of the council. Soon after the swearing-in, the first general council meeting was held, at which municipal secretary Binu Francis read out the notification for elections to the post of chairman and vice-chairman.
Both the United Democratic Front (UDF) and Left Democratic Front (LDF) secured 20 seats each in the 44-member council. Four seats were won by Independents.
