By Twocircles.net Staff Reporter
Kozhikode: The third largest corporation in Kerala welcomed a Muslim mayor, when industrialist and former MLA from Beypore VKC Mammed Koya assumed office on Wednesday. Kozhikode district collector N Prasanth administered the oath of office to VKC in a function held at the packed corporation council hall in the city on Wednesday.
The Muslim consolidation in favour of the Left Democratic Front helped the Left coalition retain the Corporation despite an anti-incumbency trend in Kozhikode.
VKC got 48 votes while UDF and BJP mayoral candidates PM Niyas and Nambidi Narayanan got 19 and 7 votes respectively.
Felicitating the new councilors, the new mayor appealed to the council to work together for strengthening the city administration. The mayor exhorted the support of his colleagues to develop Kozhikode, especially in effectively carrying various projects meant for the welfare of underprivileged sector.
“The development of marginalised sector as wells as the industry is confronted with various problems. We will work together to tackle those impediments in order to ensure the comprehensive development of the city,” the mayor said.
VKC, who is the founder of VKC Group, a footwear manufacturer, exhorted the support of corporation officers to timely complete the development initiatives.
MLAs A Pradeepkumr, Elamaram Kareem and Purushan Kadalundy and CPM district secretary P Mohanan greeted the mayor.
The 75-member council has a total of 20 muslim members, which included P P Beeran Koya, K M Rafeeque, Shaheeda PP, Advocate C K Seenath, Shameena, Shaniya PK, K Najma, Rafeeq, Saleena M, Kattadath Hajara and R V Ayishabi of Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Advocate P M Niyas, V Rahiya, KT Beeran Koya, Mullaveettil Moitheen , K C Shobhitha, C Abdul Rahiman, M Kunjamutty, Ayishabi Pandikasala and Soufiya Aneesh of United Democratic Front (UDF).