The Congress party in Attappady's Agali grama panchayat breathed a sigh of relief after N.K. Manju resigned as panchayat president. Manju had shocked the party by winning the presidency with support from nine Left Democratic Front (LDF) members. This move embarrassed Congress and made it consider legal action. However, the district Congress leadership decided to forgive her, calling her actions those of an inexperienced person rather than a punishable offense. District Congress Committee president A. Thankappan said, "The party would not take any action against Ms. Manju." He also added that the party would be more careful to avoid such problems in the future. In the 2015 and 2020 local elections, the LDF had a strong hold on Agali panchayat. But in the recent polls, the United Democratic Front (UDF) won 10 of the 21 seats, LDF got nine, and BJP two. Since BJP stayed neutral and did not support either side, UDF is in a comfortable spot to lead despite being one seat short of a majority. The UDF chose Sibu Cyriac for the president’s post. But Manju, elected from Chinnaparamba (Ward 20) on a Congress symbol, upset the plan by winning the presidency with LDF support. This drew sharp criticism, including from Christian community leaders. Fr. Xavier Khan Vattayil, founder-director of the Sehion Retreat Centre in Attappady, condemned her action. Under pressure from Congress, Manju stepped down on Monday, clearing the way for UDF’s return to power. However, with 10 UDF members (including Manju), nine LDF, and two BJP members, running the panchayat smoothly could be a challenge. Published - December 30, 2025 08:58 pm IST