Congress ward members accused of defecting and aligning with the BJP to take control of the Mattathur grama panchayat in Thrissur on Sunday rejected the charge, saying they continue to remain with the party and have not been asked to step down from their posts.

Addressing a press conference, Panchayat president Tessi Thomas and DCC general secretary T M Chandran said no Congress member had joined the BJP and dismissed claims that a party whip had been issued during the panchayat governing committee election. They described the DCC president’s statement on the whip as incorrect.

Ward members T N Chandran, Shafi Kallooparambil, Block Panchayat member Praveen, Linto Palliparamban and Noorjahan, among others, were present.

The leaders said they came to know of BJP support only after the governing committee election and said their decision not to resign was influenced by prevailing public sentiment in Mattathur. They claimed that local opinion was largely against the CPM and that their actions reflected this political reality.

They denied forming any alliance with the BJP or joining the party, saying they would not take hasty decisions without understanding the consequences. Seeking intervention from the Congress leadership, they said they were ready to act in line with the party’s direction if approached constructively.

Clarifying their stand, the leaders said BJP members had voted in favour of Congress candidates against the CPM during the governing committee election.

The group demanded the withdrawal of disciplinary action, saying the expulsions were based solely on media reports. They said the decision could be reviewed if the party leadership intervened appropriately. T M Chandran said the Congress in Mattathur faced a serious challenge from the CPM and that future steps would be decided in the coming days. 

Earlier, the Thrissur District Congress Committee (DCC) announced that it would initiate legal proceedings to disqualify 10 ward members of the Mattathur grama panchayat, a day after eight of them resigned from the party and allegedly aligned with the BJP to wrest control of the panchayat. The remaining two had contested the local body elections as rebel candidates.

DCC president Adv Joseph Tajet said strict disciplinary action had already been taken, including expulsion of those who led the move. He said legal steps would be taken to disqualify the eight Congress ward members and two rebel members.

Those facing action include Panchayat president Tessi Jose Kallarackal and ward members K R Ouseph, Minimol, Sreeja, Suma Antony, Akshay Santhosh, Printo Palliparamban, Siji Rajesh, Sibi Paulose and Noorjahan Navas. Tessi and Ouseph had contested the local body elections as rebel candidates.