I am proud of what I was able to do, says Beena Philip

“I have tried my best and people have realized that. Anything else is nothing but an election stunt,” Beena Philip, the outgoing mayor of Kozhikode, could not hide her disappointment as she opened up about the past five years within the mantle of the mayor and the end result.

Mrs. Philip, a retired teacher, has carved a place for herself in the political history of the civic body through her knowledgeable and approachable attitude. While she steps down after an eventful tenure, she expressed mixed feelings about her tenure. “I am proud of what I have been able to do, but sometimes I feel I could have done more. I am fortunate that the Corporation has built a good name during my tenure,” she said.

Ms. Philip represented the Pottammal division of the Kozhikode Corporation, which the CPI(M) lost to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the recent local body polls. She said the story suggesting the loss was her responsibility was concerning. “Some people believe that false stories are circulating on social media. But I must say that the party workers did their best. We were probably a bit overconfident,” she said, referring to the setback the left parties faced in the elections.

She spoke highly of Deputy Mayor CP Musafar Ahamed, whose defeat in Meenchanda division became a hotly debated issue, especially since he was the intended mayoral candidate. “I was impressed by Musafar’s mature handling of various issues, especially the shifting of Palayam market to Kalluthankadavu. He dealt calmly with traders who opposed the move. I believe some were intimidated by his caliber and therefore targeted him. The allegations against him have no basis in fact,” she said.

Ms Philip said she plans to take a short break from politics. She declined to comment on speculation that she could be an LDF candidate in the next assembly elections. “For now, I prefer to stay away from power. Being an MLA comes with a lot of responsibility. I need time to update myself before taking up a new role,” she said.