T’puram: Dramatic and unruly scenes prevailed at corporation council on Monday as protests, slogan shouting and repeated disruptions by opposition councillors brought the proceedings to a standstill. The tension peaked when a heated argument between UDF parliamentary party leader K S Sabarinadhan and BJP councillor and Chempazhanthy Udayan over securing the council’s minutes book escalated into a physical scuffle, triggering clashes involving councillors from both sides, including women members.The council meeting, which began at 2.30pm amid tight police security, was adjourned within barely 10 minutes after mayor V V Rajesh passed all agenda items without any discussion.The meeting began on a stormy note with LDF councillors entering the council hall carrying placards demanding removal of BJP councillor R Sugathan. As soon as the proceedings commenced, LDF members surrounded the mayor’s podium, raised slogans and repeatedly interrupted his address. LDF parliamentary party leader S P Deepak demanded that the council first discuss Sugathan’s continuation as a councillor before any official business was taken up.Ignoring the protests, mayor proceeded with the meeting. He announced that the corporation would constitute a committee to examine the structural defects in harbour ward housing project and would also seek a forensic audit chaired by chief secretary into the Smart City project.Rajesh then referred to the ongoing controversy over Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) emblem. Playing a video of LSG minister K M Shaji’s recent remarks in the council, Rajesh welcomed the minister’s stand supporting display of PMAY emblem on beneficiary houses and congratulated him for what he described as a practical and people-centric decision. Minister Shaji had recently stated that the state should not forgo central assistance merely because PMAY emblem is displayed on houses built under the scheme, a position that has triggered sharp political reactions in Kerala.He then declared the remaining agenda items passed without discussion and adjourned the meeting in about 10 minutes amid continuous protests. BJP councillors countered the LDF protest by raising slogans praising the mayor.After the LDF walked out, the confrontation shifted to the attendance register and minutes book. Sabarinadhan displayed the minutes book, alleging that most of the councillors had not signed it and accusing the ruling council of attempting to record signatures later. He also alleged that BJP councillors prevented opposition members from signing the attendance register.The situation escalated when councillor Udayan demanded that the minutes book be handed back for signing. A verbal altercation between Udayan and Sabarinadhan quickly turned into a physical scuffle. Moments later, women councillors of the BJP and UDF were also involved in pushing and jostling.Responding to the developments, Rajesh alleged that the opposition had deliberately disrupted the council proceedings and prevented the civic body from transacting its scheduled business. “Whatever happened in the meeting was unfortunate. LDF and UDF are intentionally trying to create chaos at the council meeting,” he said in the news conference later. He also added that UDF member tried to destroy the minutes register which is a critical document.Meanwhile, Deepak accused BJP councillors of displaying a “culture of hooliganism.” Referring to the arrest of Sugathan in an earlier criminal case, Deepak alleged that violence had become the BJP’s “basic political character.”However, Sabarinadhan said the UDF would pursue legal action against those responsible for the violence. Alleging that BJP councillors had physically assaulted women councillors, he said the UDF would file a formal police complaint and seek criminal action against those involved.
