Deepak Joy to resign as deputy mayor

Kochi: Witnessing a change of guard in the corporation, deputy mayor Deepak Joy, who was elected as MLA from Tripunithura assembly constituency, will resign on Wednesday. Chances are high for Congress councillor Sudheer V R to be elected as the new deputy mayor. But there are other contenders like Henry Austin, P D Martin and KVP Krishna Kumar for the post."Considering various issues, including religion and group equations in Congress, Sudheer, the councillor from Elamakkara South, is one of the top contenders. Austin, councillor from Vaduthala, who is an ‘A' group leader, also stands a good chance. As per the earlier decision Joy and Kumar should have shared the deputy mayor's post for two-and-a-half years. There is a chance that Kumar will be elected as deputy mayor and continue in the post for the rest of the tenure," a source with the Congress said. Even if Joy resigns, it will take some time to complete the procedures for conducting elections to the post. Meanwhile, LDF is yet to start discussions on its candidate for the deputy mayor's post. LDF will take a decision in this regard only after the notification for the election is issued, a party leader said. During the deputy mayor election held immediately after the new council assumed office, LDF had fielded V J Yesudas, councillor from Nazareth division, to take on Joy.