Shirts torn; woman councillors assaulted: TVM Corp council meeting turns into battleground | VIDEO
Thiruvananthapuram: Utter chaos and violent scenes unfolded at the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council meeting on Monday as Congress and BJP councillors engaged in a fierce physical brawl. Clothes were torn, and women councillors were allegedly assaulted during the high-voltage drama that erupted over the signing of the attendance register.
The root of the clash
The trouble began when BJP councillors allegedly tried to keep the attendance register aside to enable BJP councillor R Sugathan, who was recently arrested by the police in connection with an attempt-to-murder case, to sign it.
Objecting to this move, Congress councillors forcefully seized the attendance register. Following this, BJP members tried to snatch the book back from the Congress members. The situation quickly escalated from a heated verbal spat into a violent physical altercation, with leaders even climbing onto the dais to clash with each other.
Allegations of assault on women councillors
The scuffle soon turned into a physical assault. Visuals showed clothes being torn during the melee. In the video footage, a BJP councillor could be seen attempting to strike Congress leader K S Sabarinadhan, but the blow accidentally hit the head of a female councillor instead.
Congress leaders, including Sabarinadhan, strongly protested, alleging that BJP councillors physically assaulted their female colleagues. Following the clash, Councillor Shirley filed a complaint stating that she was assaulted by BJP councillor Chempazhanthy Udayan. She was subsequently shifted to the hospital.
Nalanchira Councillor Thresia was also hospitalised due to injuries sustained in the scuffle.
Sabarinadhan demanded the immediate resignation of Chempazhanthy Udayan, accusing him of behaving in an uncultured manner and alleging that Udayan’s deliberate intention was to tear up the register book. A formal complaint was submitted to the Corporation Secretary by Congress leaders against Udayan.
BJP defends actions
Denying the allegations, BJP councillors claimed that the issue started because Congress members tried to monopolise and hide the attendance register. The BJP members stated they only attempted to retrieve the book from them and accused the Congress councillors of escalating the situation into a full-blown physical fight.
LDF stance and general tense atmosphere
Meanwhile, LDF councillors took a firm stand against R Sugathan, stating that someone who is an accused in around 50 criminal cases, including Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) offenses, cannot be accommodated in the council.
The atmosphere at the council meeting was extremely tense right from the start. Opposition councillors arrived shouting slogans and holding placards.
LDF Parliamentary Leader S P Deepak demanded that the issue they raised must be discussed in the council. LDF councillors who were injured in a protest the previous day also attended the meeting, with some arriving in wheelchairs. A massive police force was deployed on the Corporation premises to maintain order.
‘Goonda Raj’, says V Sivankutty
Former General Education minister V Sivankutty visited the injured Congress councillors at the Corporation. Condemning the incident, he termed the clashes a "Goonda Vilayattu" (Goonda Raj) and remarked that Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has never witnessed such a turbulent period in its history. He placed the blame squarely on the BJP councillors, alleging that they led the assault on others.