Date:25/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022504970300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Two NCP councillors in Alappuzha back LDF

Staff Reporter

Allege bid to subvert administration

Say do not want to be part of any horse-trading

Say ties with UDF are against party decision to remain independent

ALAPPUZHA: Two members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the Alappuzha municipal council, Rahana Rafeek and C. Ramadevi, have said that they wanted the present leadership of the municipality to continue as they had won as councillors with the support of the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

The LDF is the ruling front in Alappuzha and CPI(M) leader P.P. Chitharanjan the municipal chairman. The NCP has four members in the council.

Ms. Ramadevi and Ms. Rahana Rafeek said their leadership in the municipal council was trying to subvert the municipal administration by joining hands with the United Democratic Front. According to the two councillors, the move is against the decision taken by the party to stand as an independent block in the council. The statement said the present municipal administration was striving for the development of the municipality and, therefore, should continue.

They added that they did not want to be a part of any horse-trading and would function as part of the LDF.