Kollam witnessed a quiet transition of power this week. CPI's K Jagadamma was replaced by CPM's C Radhamoni as the president of the district panchayat.
Kollam is one of the few areas in Kerala where the CPI can stand up to its bigger ally. When the CPI adhered to an agreement to share the top post of the district panchayat with the CPM, it was definitely expecting something in return.
When asked if the CPI would demand the post of the mayor in Kollam municipal corporation, party district secretary N Anirudhan minced no words: "We already did." The CPM may be obliged to give way for its ally in the corporation mid-term as the CPI did in the district panchayat.
The local self-government bodies in the state are in flux. The change of guards from the grass-roots institutions could create ripples in the state politics.
Political parties had reached power-sharing agreements in the local self-government bodies soon after the elections in November 2015. Most of the agreements required the rulers to step down in favour of their allies after two and half years.
Power tussles
The power-sharing agreements are no longer typical of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has also adopted the method in a bid to pursue power.
"The party has recognised the trend of yearning for parliamentary positions," a former state secretariat member of the CPM said. "When even members of the higher committees pursue power, how can you blame the lower cadre?"
Grapevine is that the Thiruvananthapuram mayor would be replaced by another CPM member after the completion of two and a half years. However, the party is on a sticky wicket there. Any manipulation could be dangerous in the council in which the party does not have a simple majority. If the Congress and the BJP could bury their hatchet during a trust vote, the party would lose control of the capital city.
District panchayat president V K Madhu could also step down in favour of a colleague in the party's district secretariat. It is no secret that the party is planning to shift the chairmen of the corporation standing committees. The ruling front, however, will have to get its numbers right in the event of a voting.
The Thrissur model
The LDF first experimented with power-sharing in the Thrissur municipal corporation and the district panchayat.
Sheela Vijayakumar has stepped down as the president of the district panchayat after two years, to make way for CPM's Mary Paulose.
In the municipal corporation, the CPM mayor is expected to be replaced by a CPI nominee after three years. The CPI could hold the post for a year before the CPM reclaims it, according to an agreement.
The LDF constituents have also agreed on sharing the posts of the deputy mayor and the district panchayat vice-president.
In Kannur and Kozhikode corporations, where the CPM has a definite lead, the party has not bothered to strike an agreement to share power.
The Congress and its allies are also in a tug-of-war, especially in the Kochi municipal corporation.
In the 17-member Kasaragod district panchayat, the Congress and ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) are equal powers with four seats each. The IUML has claimed the post of the district panchayat president. The district-level leadership of the Congress was not amused. They are lobbying the state leadership to press the ally for a change of guard.
The curious case of Kottayam
The power-sharing in Kottayam roiled the state politics recently. When Joshy Philip resigned as district panchayat president after he was selected as the district chief of the Congress, KC(M) leader K M Mani pulled a coup with the help of supposedly rival CPM representatives.
Mani and company had already walked out of the UDF but the estranged partners had vowed to maintain their ties in the local self-government bodies. The Congress was caught off-guard by Mani's manipulations.
The Kerala Congress (Mani) may see its position weakening in its strongholds in Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts as the local bodies reach their half mark. The previous agreements may no longer hold water.
In Thodupuzha municipality, the Congress, the KC(M) and the IUML had reached an agreement to share power but the exit of Mani from the UDF has upset the equations. Muslim League's nominee has been serving as the municipal chairman ever since.
Thrown off balance
The LDF pulled off another feat in faraway Kalpetta, where it has successfully challenged the UDF leadership with support from the Janata Dal (United), which parted ways with the Congress.
Though no political party is in favour of such local adjustments, pragmatists prevail at the end of the day. In fact, the frequent change at the top does not augur well for the local administration.
"It is not a good trend to replace someone for political reason just as he learns the ropes and gains in confidence. The thrust is on power, not development. We need legal safeguards to prevent such changes," said Prof. M A Oommen.
Wish the political parties heeded the advice of the social scientist.
