Thiruvananthapuram: Minister V Sivankutty said that the past five years at the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation had been marked by constant confrontation and that the BJP had not allowed council meetings to be conducted with decorum. However, he added that LDF would not follow the same approach and would respect the people’s mandate.

Referring to reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be visiting Thiruvananthapuram, Sivankutty said there were important issues that needed to be raised. He said the BJP Mayor should submit a letter to the Prime Minister seeking intervention to address the stray dog menace in the city and ensure that the issue is brought to his attention.

Sivankutty also criticised the Congress, alleging that it had turned into a recruitment agency of the RSS. “Figures do not lie. What is happening is blatant vote trading,” he said, adding that the Congress would not hesitate to align with the BJP to defeat the LDF. He further claimed that the BJP’s assertion that it could form a government in Kerala with 35 seats was based on the belief that Congress legislators could be bought. He also alleged that Sabarinath and Muraleedharan of the Congress had backed the BJP in the issue involving LDF MLA V K Prasanth.

Questioning media reports about criticism of the PM SHRI scheme at CPI meetings, Sivankutty asked how such reports were being interpreted. He dismissed claims of widespread public anger against the Chief Minister, calling them products of media imagination.

Responding to issues related to municipal buildings, Sivankutty said that if any illegalities had occurred, the new corporation could examine it. However, he stressed that there must be clarity about the respective powers of the government and the corporation. With several serious issues confronting the state, he questioned whether a single building issue deserved such prominence.

The Minister also said that the revision of textbooks for Classes 1 to 12 for the next academic year had been completed in Kerala. He accused the Centre of attempting to impose the National Education Policy, and said lessons upholding constitutional values would be added. Reports on removing back benches and reducing the weight of school bags had been received and would be presented before the next curriculum committee, he said.

He also reiterated that schools should not conduct classes during vacations, adding that children should be allowed to play during free time.