Close on the heels of the Kerala High Court directing 20 councillors of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation to retake their oath, the Corporation premises witnessed high drama on Thursday as the Left Democratic Front (LDF) intensified its protest demanding the resignation of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor in connection with the oath-taking controversy.
As Mayor V.V. Rajesh and a group of BJP councillors attempted to enter his office amid a sit-in by the LDF over the secrecy of the re-swearing-in of 19 BJP councillors, a scuffle broke out between the two sides. The LDF was also demanding the ouster of BJP councillor R. Sugathan recently arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA), who was also among the councillors ordered to retake their oath.
While the protest was under way, the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor arrived at the office along with BJP councillors. When the LDF councillors attempted to stop them, a fistfight broke out between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) councillors who blocked the Mayor and the BJP councillors in his support.
In the ensuing melee, CPI(M) councillor Sindhu Sasi sustained injuries and was shifted to a hospital. Meanwhile, the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor forcibly entered the office.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Rajesh said the LDF had no right to block him from entering his office. He said such violence would not be tolerated and claimed that BJP councillors, including himself, were injured in the clash. A total of nine BJP councillors, including the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor, were admitted to the Medical College Hospital.
BJP leader K.Surendran said the CPI(M) was unleashing violence as the BJP was exposing corruption during the tenure of the previous council. When asked about previous protests of the BJP when the entrance to the Mayor’s office was blocked, Mr. Rajesh claimed that the BJP never carried out such protests.
Four LDF councillors, including former Deputy Mayor Rakhee Ravikumar, were admitted to hospital. LDF Council Party leader S.P. Deepak accused the Mayor of leading an attack on the LDF councillors staging a peaceful sit-in.
“The BJP councilors and some anti-social elements launched a planned attack on the protesting councilors to deliberately create tension. The Mayor and the BJP leadership have taken the stance of protecting the councillor, who is an accused in the KAAPA case, at any cost,” he said.
“ The Mayor is implementing a political strategy to postpone the council meeting scheduled for June 29 and extend the meeting to another day to create a situation where-in the councillor, an accused in the KAAPA case, can get bail,” said Mr. Deepak.
United Democratic Front council party leader K.S. Sabarinadhan accused the BJP and the LDF of deceiving the public by unleashing violence on each other. He alleged that the previous LDF government did not take any action against Mr. Sugathan while the UDF government imposed KAAPA and arrested him.
Nod for KAAPA move
Meanwhile, the Home Secretary approved the invocation of KAAPA against Mr. Sugathan.
According to the LDF councillors, the election of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor had become invalid since the BJP councillors retook their oath following the High Court directive. They demanded that the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor resign and fresh elections be held.
Published – June 25, 2026 08:56 pm IST
