BJP-LDF Councillors Clash In Thiruvananthapuram Corporation
Mayor, councillors injured; Tensions rose when the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and BJP councillors tried to enter the office, but were blocked by LDF councillors. This triggered a scuffle, with both sides pushing and shoving, and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor ending up on the ground
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V.V. Rajesh and councillors belonging to the ruling BJP and the Opposition LDF were injured in a clash between the two sides, during a protest by the CPM-led front outside the Mayor’s chambers.
The LDF councillors were holding the dharna since the morning, accusing Rajesh of violating the oath-taking code and demanding the disqualification of BJP councillor R. Sugathan, who was arrested under the Kerala Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) and is in the Viyyur Central Jail in Thrissur.
Tensions rose when the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and BJP councillors tried to enter the office, but were blocked by LDF councillors. This triggered a scuffle, with both sides pushing and shoving, and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor ending up on the ground.
The police intervened to break up a clash between councillors. Mayor Rajesh suffered a leg injury, while a CPM councillor sustained a head injury that required stitches. Both the Mayor and the injured councillors were taken to the hospital for treatment.
CPM leader S.P. Deepak claimed the BJP side attacked LDF councillors who were holding a peaceful protest outside the chamber, calling it a preplanned attempt to disrupt the opposition’s demonstration. BJP former state president K. Surendran accused the CPM of assaulting Mayor Rajesh and BJP councillors, describing it as a deliberate attack and accusing the party of resorting to goon-like acts to undermine the democratically elected council.
The clash occurred a day after Justice V. Kunhikrishnan of the Kerala High Court ordered all 20 BJP councillors to retake their oaths within four weeks. The order, based on Section 152 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act and Section 143 of the Kerala Municipality Act, requires elected members to take oath either in the name of God or by solemn affirmation, without elaboration.
These councillors, elected in the 2025 civic polls, had previously sworn in the name of Mother India, local deities, martyrs of their organisation, Bhagwan Parshuram, Attukal Amma, and Gurudevan. With their slim majority in the corporation council, BJP leaders quickly avoided risks by retaking valid oaths within hours of Wednesday’s verdict. Only Sugathan, currently in jail, was unable to do so.