The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Council witnessed unprecedented scenes of violence as a clash broke out between CPI(M) and BJP councillors, leaving Mayor VK Prasanth injured.
Saturday marked LDF’s second year in power at the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
The clash broke out between the ruling LDF and the opposition BJP over the installation of high mast lights. The BJP had moved a resolution demanding that the high mast lights be installed in more areas of the Corporation.
However, Mayor Prasanth responded to the BJP’s resolution by reading out a letter he had written to MLAs and an MP in connection with the issue, stating that the lights shouldn’t be installed in areas that are not important.
“The letter also said that the lights could be set up in areas where it is most needed and the funds needed to install the lights could instead be used for setting up streetlights in other places. Initially, we had supported the BJP, but after the Mayor read out the content of the letter we felt what he said was correct,” Vimal Kumar KC, a Congress councillor told TNM.
Following a discussion on health, public works and public health, the Mayor then concluded the day’s agenda. It was then that the BJP councillors rushed to the floor of the council, said Vimal. “They blocked the Mayor at the lounge of the Council Hall. At that time IP Binu of the CPI (M) attacked BJP Council party leader Girikumar of the BJP,” alleged the Congress councillor.
This led to a clash between the members of the BJP and the CPI (M) members. It was in the midst of the scuffle that Mayor Prasanth suffered injuries, including to his head. He was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.
However, BJP’s Pradeep Kumar A denied attacking Mayor Prasanth. He said, “We didn’t attack the mayor. We blocked him when he refused to discuss the items of the agenda. We are bound to get our democratic rights.”
CPI(M)’s IP Binu told the media that the attack against the Mayor was pre-planned. “The BJP has done it after a section of the media left the Council Hall. What is the justification for dragging the Mayor to the floor?” Binu asked.
Following the clash, BJP councillors protested outside the Corporation office, raising slogans over their democratic rights being denied.
Meanwhile, the United Democratic Front led by the Congress had prior to the Council meeting observed a black day alleging that developmental activities had come to halt in the Corporation. The UDF MLAs attended the Council meeting wearing black badges.