THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A clash broke out in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Council on Monday as the UDF and the BJP exchanged allegations of assault following a ruckus that erupted after the council meeting.Tension had been building even before the session began, following recent clashes outside the chamber of Mayor V V Rajesh in which several LDF and BJP councillors were injured, according to news agency PTI.The BJP-led NDA took control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in December 2025, ending the LDF’s 45-year rule after securing 50 of the 101 seats.The Congress-led UDF had planned to move a no-confidence motion during the meeting. However, it decided against doing so after the LDF made it clear that it would not support the motion.Ahead of the session, both the LDF and the UDF staged separate protests outside the Corporation office. LDF councillors injured in the earlier clashes attended the meeting after being discharged from hospital.Television visuals showed CPI(M) councillors holding placards and demanding the resignation of BJP councillor Sugathan, who was arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with criminal cases, as Mayor Rajesh entered the council hall.According to news agency PTI, the mayor subsequently announced that all agenda items had been approved and adjourned the meeting.The situation escalated after LDF councillors left the hall and UDF members approached the attendance register to sign it.Leader of the UDF parliamentary party K S Sabarinadhan alleged that BJP Education Standing Committee Chairman Chempazhanthy Udayan attacked Congress councillors, including women members, when they attempted to sign the attendance register.“We realised the danger of not signing the attendance register, as it could be tampered with to avoid recording the absence of councillor Sugathan. So we decided to sign the register,” said Sabarinadhan.He alleged that Udayan first verbally abused the women councillors and then manhandled them.“He then tore his own shirt. Later, he snatched the attendance register and tore its pages,” Sabarinadhan alleged.UDF councillors said they would explore legal action against BJP members and staged a protest.The BJP rejected the allegations and claimed that it was Sabarinadhan and other UDF councillors who had attempted to tamper with the attendance register.According to BJP councillors, UDF members assaulted Udayan when BJP councillors tried to prevent the alleged tampering.The latest confrontation comes amid continuing political tensions in the Corporation after the Kerala High Court invalidated the oath taken by several BJP councillors, ruling that they had invoked names other than “God” or used expressions beyond the prescribed form of oath or solemn affirmation.The LDF has alleged that the fresh oath taken by the BJP councillors following the High Court order was not in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
