M.K. Vijayan elected Kanhangad block panchayat president after resignation of Periye murder case convict Manikandan

M.K. Vijayan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] was elected as the new president of Kanhangad block panchayat on Monday following the resignation of K. Manikandan after the latter’s conviction in the Periye murder case involving the killing of two Youth Congress workers.

Mr. Vijayan, a native of Mangad, Uduma, and member of Uduma division, secured eight votes against the four polled by UDF candidate M.K Baburaj of the Congress. The 13-member block panchayat currently has 12 members, with the LDF holding a clear majority of eight.

The election held at 11 a.m under the supervision of returning officer Biju Joseph, RTO Kanhangad, was necessitated after Mr. Manikandan had stepped down from his post following legal proceedings related to the murder case.

Mr. Baburaj had earlier approached the Election Commission seeking cancellation of Mr. Manikandan’s ward membership, with arguments already completed and a verdict awaited.

Mr. Vijayan had been serving as chairman of the Standing Committee and is also a member of the CPI(M) Uduma area Committee.