High drama in corp council, oppn continues protest

Thiruvananthapuram: The corporation council became the venue for dramatic scenes on Friday as BJP councillors, who have been on a protest mode, improvised their mode of dissent minutes ahead of council meeting. The BJP councillors chose specific points around the council hall and were seen lying in groups; two each for one entry point; blocking the path of ruling councillors and Mayor Arya Rajendran. Senior LDF councillors and even UDF councillors who had not anticipated the hurdle had to jump the handrails, step over the chairs and had to make their way to the respective places.
A group of LDF councillors huddled at the entry point of the mayor where BJP councillors were lying blocking the path. The LDF too was bent on not giving in to pressure tactics of the BJP and holding the council. Accompanied by female police officers the mayor was helped to her way to the chair by LDF councillors evading the BJP members who had blocked her path.
The LDF councillors clapped and cheered once the mayor successfully breached the blockade and reached her chair.
She had to speak loud as the BJP councillors resorted to sloganeering in the council hall. Meanwhile, the UDF councillors also pulled out placards mocking the corporation for its corrupt ways.
Unmindful of the noise that rang around her, the mayor asked the heads of standing committees to read out the agenda. She then declared all items on the agenda passed. Welfare standing committee chairman S Salim presented a verbal resolution strongly condemning the manner in which the BJP has disrupted the functioning of the council. He said that the BJP’s undemocratic ways of protest has hindered the efforts of the corporation in even holding a council meeting.
Meanwhile, LDF parliamentary party leader D R Anil said the LDF councillors would file a complaint against BJP councillors for blocking the way to the council hall.
The mayor concluded the session in less than 10 minutes and said that the council was successfully convened. However, the BJP councillors continued with protests and raised slogans. Later attending a news conference the mayor said that the ruling council had tried twice to negotiate with the BJP and UDF to resolve the protests.
“They are spreading fake narratives. We have already decided to publish the full list of tax defaulters and other details. Good suggestions; whatever they have proposed, have already been decided in the steering committee. As regarding the demand to pass a resolution to arrest everyone in connection with tax fraud, it is up to the police,” she said, adding that the corporation has done everything in its power to act strongly against the erring officials.
The mayor added that she did not find any lapses in police investigation and if at all any laxity is spotted, matter will be taken up. She said she had met with the Chief Minister regarding this issue.