THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 19 BJP councillors in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation retook their oath on Wednesday, following a Kerala high court ruling that invalidated their earlier oaths.The ceremony was held at the Corporation headquarters, where Mayor VV Rajesh administered the oath as per the court’s direction.One councillor, Sugathan, who is currently lodged in jail in connection with a KAPA case, was reportedly absent from the ceremony, news agency PTI reported.Earlier in the day, Justice PV Kunhikrishnan delivered the verdict, ruling that oaths taken under the Kerala Municipality Act and the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act must strictly follow the prescribed format.The court stated that elected representatives may take the oath only in the name of God or by solemn affirmation; any deviation from this format is illegal.The judgment clarified that adding the names of deities, “Mother India,” political martyrs, organizations, or other individuals is not permitted, and such additions render the oath invalid, PTI reported.The case arose from petitions challenging the oaths taken by 20 BJP councillors who had invoked Hindu deities, Bharathamba, Bharatha Matha, Gurudeva, and political martyrs during the original ceremony.The court observed that an oath is a solemn constitutional commitment that must be administered strictly according to the law.The BJP took control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation after the 2025 local body elections, winning 50 seats in the 101-member civic body, a major political milestone in a state traditionally dominated by the LDF and UDF.(With agency inputs)
