Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP-led administration in the city corporation is set to comfortably survive Monday’s special council meeting after the CPM announced that it would not support the UDF’s proposed no-confidence motion against the ruling council.UDF decided to initiate the no-confidence motion, alleging that the BJP administration had failed to address key civic issues and had plunged the corporation into administrative paralysis within six months of assuming office. The opposition has also planned a protest in front of the corporation office ahead of the council meeting.However, the move suffered a major setback after CPM Thiruvananthapuram district secretary V Joy ruled out LDF extending support to the motion. “We cannot join a no-confidence motion brought by the UDF now. It is a policy matter. Therefore, in the present circumstances, it is not possible,” Joy said, while adding that political circumstances could change in the future.Under the Kerala Municipality Act, a no-confidence motion can be admitted only if it is signed by at least one-third of the sanctioned strength of the council. In the 101-member corporation council, this translates to 34 councillors. UDF has only 19 members, making LDF support essential even for the motion to be admitted.Reacting sharply to the CPM’s stand, UDF parliamentary party leader K S Sabarinadhan alleged that the BJP and CPM were engaged in “political theatre” and accused the two parties of maintaining an “unholy nexus.”“There has been administrative paralysis in the corporation ever since this council assumed office. The apparent hostility between the CPM and BJP is only for public consumption. There is a clear understanding between them, and the people of Thiruvananthapuram can see through it,” Sabarinadhan said, adding that the UDF would continue its agitation against what it described as the “CPM-BJP nexus.”Meanwhile, mayor V V Rajesh dismissed the UDF’s move as politically inconsequential and said the BJP had anticipated repeated no-confidence motions. “We came to power fully expecting that there would be no-confidence motions every six months. We are prepared for any number of such attempts during our five-year term. These political exercises do not concern us,” Rajesh told reporters on Sunday.The mayor asserted that the BJP govt would complete its full five-year tenure and return with a stronger mandate in the next election. “We will complete five years in office and continue implementing our development agenda. After this term, we are confident of coming back even stronger. Whether the UDF or the LDF wishes otherwise makes no difference. They cannot destabilise this administration,” he said.Rajesh also took a swipe at the opposition, saying the UDF had hoped to bring down the BJP council but failed to secure the support of the CPM. “That itself exposes the contradictions within the opposition,” he said.Despite the BJP appearing politically secure, Monday’s corporation council meeting is expected to witness stormy scenes. Both UDF and the LDF have announced separate protests outside the corporation office over various civic and administrative issues, while UDF is also expected to raise the no-confidence issue inside the council.
