Kottayam: Independent councillor Maya Rahul was elected chairperson of the Pala Municipality on Wednesday with the backing of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). Rahul secured the support of 16 of the 26 councillors in the municipal council. She represents Ward 19 and is serving her second term as a councillor.

She was backed by the LDF and members of the Save Congress Forum, comprising Congress rebels who were expelled from the party for defying its whip. She contested against Riya Cheeramkuzhi, the official United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate.

The election was necessitated after former chairperson Diya Binu Pulikkakandam was removed following a no-confidence motion moved by the LDF.

Diya, who had gained recognition as the country’s youngest municipal chairperson, was ousted after around six months in office. The no-confidence motion was passed with the support of four Congress councillors and the independent municipal vice-chairperson. The Congress councillors had voted in favour of the motion in violation of the party whip directing them not to participate in the proceedings.