The New Indian Express ·
Uproar in Thiruvananthapuram Corp Council over Mayor Care; UDF, LDF councillors stage walkout
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Mayor Care initiative came under fire in the corporation council on Tuesday, with the opposition demanding that the ruling BJP-led administration disclose details of the CSR funds and other contributions mobilised for the programme. The opposition also called for a vigilance probe into alleged financial irregularities.
The row erupted during the discussion on the supplementary agenda, with UDF and LDF councillors questioning the legal basis for soliciting corporate support in the name of the initiative and alleging that the corporation had failed to maintain transparency in the collection and utilisation of funds.
UDF parliamentary party leader K S Sabarinadhan said an RTI reply showed that kits had been distributed to only around 4,000 children, though Mayor V V Rajesh had sought assistance for 10,000 economically disadvantaged students.
Sabarinadhan said the mayor in a letter dated on May 19 had written to companies, banks, textile shops and quarry owners seeking assistance for the 10,000 beneficiaries. He questioned Rajesh on the amount and value of the financial and material support subsequently mobilised and demanded that the details be placed before the council.
He also questioned the corporation’s claim that such contributions need not be accounted for before the council since they were not credited to the corporation’s own account. The opposition alleged that the programme was being presented as an official corporation initiative, with letters issued on the mayor’s official letterhead, while details of the collections remained undisclosed.
Rajesh rejected the allegations, saying not a single rupee had been collected for distributing school kits under Mayor Care. He accused the opposition of attempting to create unnecessary drama through baseless allegations.
Meanwhile, the LDF raised allegations over the Onam component of Mayor Care. LDF parliamentary party leader S P Deepak demanded a comprehensive vigilance probe into the alleged collection of lakhs of rupees and kits from private establishments for distribution as Onam gifts to corporation employees.
Deepak alleged that major textile shops, hypermarkets and private individuals had contributed money and kits and questioned why details of the mobilisation had not been made public. He also alleged that recent inspections at major hotels were targeted at establishments that had refused to contribute.
The allegations triggered a heated exchange between the ruling and opposition teams. The confrontation escalated after Sabarinadhan’s microphone was switched off, following which UDF and LDF councillors walked out of the council.
The opposition also raised issues concerning street vending, unauthorised constructions and stray dog management during the session. Opposition councillors alleged partiality and discrimination in the stray dog management programme and accused the ruling front of releasing dogs caught from BJP wards in the wards of opposition councillors.
Deepak alleged that the corporation had failed to effectively act against unauthorised constructions despite cases being brought to its attention, and claimed that settlements were facilitating corruption. On stray dogs, he accused the mayor of withholding information from the council regarding dog shelters and misleading councillors about steps being taken in accordance with court directives.
Street vending was another major issue discussed during the council. Councillors raised the need to regulate street vending while protecting the livelihood of vendors.