Pala municipality marks 76 years since its formation

Kottayam: The Pala municipality in Kottayam district is completing 76 years of its existence. The municipality was formally inaugurated on December 1, 1949, by R V Thomas at a function presided over by the then municipal chairman, George Thomas Kottukappally.

Although the inauguration took place in 1949, the process began much earlier. The Maharajah of Travancore issued the proclamation establishing the municipality on February 1, 1947, followed by the first council election. Preliminary procedures for setting up the civic body had commenced in 1945.

Local body elections were conducted at regular intervals in Kerala only since 1995. Prior to that, elections to panchayats and municipalities took place in different years. Common municipal elections were held in Thiru-Kochi in 1953 and 1956 and in Kerala in 1962, 1968, 1979-80 and 1988. However, elections in Pala were not conducted during two of these elections, similar to the present Mattannur municipality. In fact, Pala was the only local body, apart from the Corporations, where more than one election took place in different years.

While Pala witnessed elections on April 25, 1964 and October 24, 1969, the other municipalities went to the polls on September 26, 1962 and April 25, 1968. Elections were delayed in Pala following the uncertainty that prevailed after the municipal council resigned on July 31, 1962. The resignation was caused by a petition submitted by the taxpayers seeking the conversion of the Pala municipality into a panchayat.

In addition to Pala, certain other municipalities also saw their first election after their formation in different years. These local bodies include Perumbavoor (first election in 1953), Muvattupuzha (1959), Malappuram (1971), Chalakudy (1971), Punalur (1972), Tirur (1973) and Manjeri (1982).