Amidst celebrations, Ponmundam gives heartburns to IUML

While the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is celebrating the United Democratic Front (UDF)’s sweeping victory across the district in the civic body elections, the results in Ponmundam panchayat have been disappointing for the party.

In Ponmundam, the IUML had gone head-to-head against an alliance of the Congress, CPI(M) and several other parties. The contest proved disastrous for the IUML, with several of its key candidates losing to the formidable Janakeeya Munnani. And the party lost the panchayat to the Congress-CPI(M) after many years.

The Janakeeya Munnani wrested control of the panchayat from the IUML by winning 13 of the 18 seats, while the IUML managed to secure four seats and its ally, the Welfare Party of India, took one.

Neither the UDF nor the Left Democratic Front (LDF) contested in Ponmundam. The battle was essentially between the IUML and a coalition of other parties. However, the Election Commission has mentioned UDF for the IUML.

The Congress leadership had dissolved its panchayat committee in Ponmundam after failing to reach an understanding with the IUML in the panchayat. The deadlock, however, cannot be blamed on either the Congress or the IUML, as it was a long-standing impasse.

While the Ponmundam panchayat elections in 2010, 2015 and 2020 saw a triangular contest between the Congress, IUML and LDF, this time the battle was a straight fight between the IUML and a Congress-CPI(M) alliance.

IUML leaders acknowledged that they had done their best to withstand the powerful surge generated by the Janakeeya Munnani, but ultimately fell short. In the outcome, the Congress secured 10 seats, while the CPI(M) claimed three.

“We did not anticipate such a defeat. Several of our key leaders were unseated, and it was particularly disheartening to lose wards where we were confident of victory,” said Kundil Hajara, the outgoing president of Ponmundam panchayat.