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Row Over Leave Granted to Jailed BJP Councillor Disrupts Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Council

A special meeting of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council concluded within thirty minutes on Wednesday following strong protests from the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF). The disruption centered on the six-month leave previously sanctioned for jailed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor R. Sugathan, a decision the Opposition claims is invalid following recent administrative actions by the State Home Department.

What Happened

The council convened on Wednesday for a special session intended to approve spillover projects. The confrontation began immediately after Mayor V.V. Rajesh read out the list of absentees, prompting LDF councillors to register their opposition to the leave sanctioned to Sugathan.

Sugathan is currently detained under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) at the high-security correctional facility in Viyyur Central Prison, Thrissur. During the previous council meeting held on July 31, Mayor Rajesh had granted Sugathan six months of leave. That decision had relied on a July 20 communication signed by an under secretary on behalf of the Additional Chief Secretary in the Home Department, which addressed Sugathan’s request for escort parole to attend the July 31 council session.

However, the Home Department subsequently withdrew the July 20 letter. Based on this withdrawal, the Opposition argued that the legal foundation for the Mayor’s decision no longer exists, rendering the sanctioned leave void. LDF Parliamentary Party leader S.P. Deepak stated that the front has formally petitioned both the Corporation Secretary and the State Election Commission regarding the illegality of the move.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Mayor Rajesh ruled that councillors could only speak on listed agenda items and instructed microphone operators to disconnect microphones for anyone raising outside topics. Deepak accused the Mayor of running proceedings undemocratically, alleging that council meeting minutes are delayed or inaccurately documented. He cited the July 31 meeting minutes, which recorded that the Mayor had sought the Opposition’s views, whereas visual recordings showed the Mayor ordering microphones to be switched off.

Procedural concerns were also voiced by Congress councillor Thampanoor Harikumar, who stated that council meetings now take place scarcely once a month, with agendas running into hundreds of pages supplied at the last minute and minutes withheld upon request. When Mayor Rajesh countered that he had not received minutes during his five-year tenure as an ordinary councillor, LDF councillor Shajitha Nazar responded that Rajesh had attended barely three council meetings during that period. With disruptions continuing, the meeting was brought to an early close.

Key Highlights

  • Opposition LDF opposed leave granted to jailed BJP councillor R. Sugathan during Wednesday’s special council meeting.
  • Sugathan is imprisoned under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) at Viyyur Central Prison in Thrissur.
  • The Home Department withdrew its July 20 letter regarding Sugathan’s escort parole request, leading the LDF to challenge the validity of the six-month leave granted on July 31.
  • LDF approached the Corporation Secretary and the State Election Commission, claiming the sanctioning of leave was illegal.
  • Mayor V.V. Rajesh restricted microphone access strictly to agenda-related discussions, resulting in the meeting ending within 30 minutes.
  • LDF announced a boycott of the Corporation’s upcoming official Onam celebrations.

Why This Matters

The dispute directly impacts the administrative functioning of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council, cutting short a session scheduled to clear essential spillover projects. It has also escalated into formal administrative and electoral challenges, with petitions filed before the Corporation Secretary and the State Election Commission regarding statutory compliance in granting leave to an incarcerated representative. Furthermore, allegations concerning inaccurate council minutes and mic management have deepened friction between the ruling leadership and Opposition factions.

What to Watch Next

Following the abrupt adjournment of the council session, the focus shifts to how the Corporation Secretary and the State Election Commission address the formal complaints submitted by the LDF. Additionally, the LDF has declared an official boycott of the Corporation’s Onam festivities in protest against the Mayor’s conduct of council proceedings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is BJP councillor R. Sugathan currently in prison?

R. Sugathan was arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) and is lodged in the high-security correctional facility at Viyyur Central Prison in Thrissur.

Why is the LDF questioning the leave granted to Sugathan?

The Mayor granted six months of leave during the July 31 meeting relying on a July 20 Home Department communication. Because the Home Department later withdrew that letter, the Opposition contends that the basis for the leave is void.

What steps has the Opposition taken regarding the matter?

LDF leaders have petitioned the Corporation Secretary and the State Election Commission over the legality of the leave and have declared a boycott of the Corporation’s official Onam celebrations.

Source: Based on reporting from The Hindu.