CPI(M) rebel is new Town Planning Committee chief in Kochi Corporation
The Hindu
LDF likely to move EC against Ashraf for disqualifying him
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered a setback in the Kochi Corporation council on Tuesday with the election of a rebel CPI(M) councillor as the chairman of the Town Planning Standing Committee.
M.H.M. Ashraf, who had earlier won the Kochangadi Division of the Kochi Corporation as a CPI(M) candidate, defeated his former party colleague P.S. Viju to the post of the chairperson in the election held on the day. While Mr. Ashraf got five votes in the nine-member committee, Mr. Viju polled three votes. One seat in the committee fell vacant following the death of CPI(M) councillor K.K. Sivan.
With the victory in the Town Planning Standing committee, two committees of the civic body are now controlled by the United Democratic Front (UDF). The front had earlier won the Works Standing Committee.
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.