Mayor Leads Attack on LDF Councillors at Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Says Kadakampally Surendran

Thiruvananthapuram: Former minister and MLA Kadakampally Surendran has alleged that the BJP has unleashed "gunda raj" at the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, describing as deeply unfortunate an attack led by the Mayor against LDF councillors who were protesting demanding the resignation of BJP councillor R Sugathan, who has been jailed under the KAAPA Act.

LDF woman councillor Sindhu Sasi, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Taxation, was seriously injured in the clash, sustaining four stitches to the head. She has been admitted to the General Hospital. Two other LDF councillors also suffered leg injuries during the protest.

On learning of the incident, CPI(M) leaders V Sivankutty and V Joy rushed to the hospital. Kadakampally Surendran said the protest had not been aimed at physically blocking the Mayor, but alleged that the Mayor had arrived with hired goons and provoked the confrontation.

He said the Mayor, after carrying out the attack, has since been admitted to hospital himself. He noted that a court had recently issued an order annulling the oath-taking of 20 BJP councillors who had been sworn in violation of due procedure, directing that all 20 be re-administered the oath within four weeks.

However, by evening the very next day, 19 of the 20 councillors — excluding Sugathan — were sworn in again without informing anyone else, in an emergency oath-taking that took place without even issuing notice to the rest of the council members.

It was during the LDF councillors' siege of the Mayor's office, staged in protest against this unconstitutional oath-taking, that the Mayor barged in along with BJP members. The LDF has decided to intensify its protest against the violence unleashed by BJP councillors and workers under the Mayor's leadership.