“Suspending Me Under the Cover of Night is a Lack of decency; I Will Fight Against Corruption,” Says Laly James, Launching a Scathing Attack on DCC

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior councillor Laly James has responded after being suspended from the Congress following her serious revelation that the Thrissur Corporation mayoral post was “sold for money” by the party leadership.

Laly said that suspending her under the cover of night was an act of sheer impropriety, and asserted that she would continue her fight against corruption. “People at the grassroots also have opinions. The leadership did not intervene in the issue in any manner. This clearly exposes the lack of maturity in the leadership. The suspension was imposed without following any due procedure. What irritated many was the notion that one does not need the help of a tuition teacher to sit in the mayor’s chair,” Laly James added.

Laly was suspended from the party on Friday night. The action was taken by KPCC president Sunny Joseph based on a report submitted by the Thrissur DCC. A four-time elected councillor, Laly James had openly criticised DCC president Joseph Tajett and AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and Deepa Das Munshi, which had sparked widespread discussion. She had also alleged that the newly elected mayor Niji Justin and her husband were going around with a bag full of money.

“I was sidelined because I didn’t have money. Three days ago, some prominent people had called me and warned that there could be a coup. I replied that my party would never betray me. I am a widow and have been active in public life for a long time. This should not have been done to me. The majority of councillors supported my name. A collective decision was ignored. Deepa Das Munshi and KC Venugopal have no understanding of the wards or the struggles of ordinary people. The public knows that I deserve the mayor’s post. Now I won’t even be allowed to become mayor or a standing committee member. If disciplinary action is taken further, I will reveal more. I will openly speak about the interests of leaders, including the financial dealings of Rajan Pallan, who controlled the Congress in the corporation council,” Laly had said earlier.

KPCC president Sunny Joseph initially dismissed Laly’s public remarks as a joke when he first responded in Kannur, but later proceeded with disciplinary action.