Arya Rajendran, a 21-year-old CPI (M) leader, was sworn in on Monday as the youngest mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Kerala’s largest urban body.
Tax collector Navjot Khosa took the oath of office to Rajendran inside a packed council room that made history after the latter was elected mayor with 54 votes out of 99 votes cast.
The 21-year-old’s choice it was a foregone conclusion as the CPM led LDF had 51 members on the 100-member council. The BJP, which had campaigned extensively this time in hopes of seizing power in the corporation, came in second with 34 members and the Congress-led UDF in third with 10 members. Five members were independent.
In the mayoral elections, although a CPM member’s vote was invalid, Rajendran is believed to have obtained 50 votes from the LDF and the support of four independents. One member was unable to attend the proceedings because he was in quarantine. The election of the deputy mayor, also likely to win the LDF, will take place in the afternoon.
Tax collector Navjot Khosa was sworn in to Rajendran’s office within a packed council room that made history after the latter was elected mayor with 54 votes out of 99 cast. (Photo: PRD)
Rajendran’s first formal role as mayor of Thiruvananthapuram will be in a program organized by Balasangham, the CPI (M) children’s team of which she is president of the state.
Rajendran’s nomination for mayor, which is reserved for women this time, was a surprise election by the CPI (M) last week and was seen as the party’s strategy to thank the younger voters who supported them. in this election. The party chose Rajendran because he has been with the CPM since the fifth class when he became a member of Balasangham and his family has been a supporter of the CPI (M) for many decades.
In the mayoral elections, although a CPM member’s vote was invalid, Rajendran is believed to have obtained 50 votes from the LDF and the support of four independents. (Photo: PRD)
Fate fell on the 21-year-old also because two of the CPI (M) mayoral candidates were defeated in the elections.
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