Thiruvananthapuram: UDF demands probe into graft in civic body

Thiruvananthapuram: A couple of days after the special council session fiasco, the UDF opposition in the city corporation has sought the intervention of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and home minister Ramesh Chennithala.

The UDF councillors also submitted yet another request to pressure the mayor into calling another special session to have more discussions on corruption charges trending in the media. UDF councillor R. Harikumar demanded a Vigilance probe into what he alleged as widespread corruption in many projects, including street lights and the Kuravankonam market, and welfare schemes. “We will approach the Vigilance very soon. We met the chief minister and the home minister and apprised them of all these issues,” said Mr Harikumar.

Mayor K. Chandrika rejected the allegations as politically motivated with an eye on impending elections. “Our office has always been under the Vigilance scanner for the past four and a half years. They have been inspecting our office on a regular basis and our office is very transparent,” she said.

The previous special council session called at the instance of the UDF had an abrupt ending as it plunged into chaos over the Shikhandi, or eunuch, remark made by UDF councillor Mary Pushpam against BJP leader P. Ashok Kumar. Ms Chandrika said a special council would be called only after Aruvikkara by-poll. “The UDF councillor should tender an apology before the next session starts,” she said.