Thrissur (Kerala) | The election of Congress candidate Niji Justin as Thrissur Corporation mayor on Friday was marred by a senior councillor's allegation that the top post was sold for money.
After Lali James lost the opportunity to become the mayor to her party colleague Niji Justin, she alleged exchange of a "suitcase" to secure the top civic post. The District Congress Committee picked Justin for the mayoral post.
"People told me that three days ago, the person who was to become the mayor, along with her husband, was rushing around with a box (suitcase)," James alleged during her interaction with reporters.
She said she had "no money to give" and had conveyed this to others when discussions were underway on the mayoral post. James alleged that AICC leaders Deepa Dasmunsi and K C Venugopal were unaware of the work of office-bearers and workers to emerge victorious.
Protesting against the party for selecting Justin for the mayor post, James initially refused to comply with the party whip. However, senior Congress leaders convinced her to vote in favour of Justin, which she did.
She said that she voted for the party and not for individuals and went on to allege that a "group led by Venugopal" was behind the party denying her the post of mayor. She refused to comment when asked whether Venugopal "received the box."
Justin said she had been working for Congress for the past 26 years and had held several positions in the party.
"These posts are only temporary. This is not the right time to respond to these allegations. The leadership has to respond to it,” she said.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph dismissed the allegations.
"I see it as a joke. She was under consideration, but it did not materialise," he said.
Joseph said response of Lali James was inappropriate. "She has disappointed people who supported her. It is a baseless allegation," he said.
Thrissur DCC president Joseph Tajet also denied the allegations. "She has been a councillor for the last four terms. Did she get the election ticket after paying money?" he asked.
UDF won 33 of 50 seats in Thrissur Corporation.
