Dramatic scenes at Thrikkakara Municipality

LDF councillors stage protest against Chairperson entering chamber

The Thrikkakara Municipality witnessed dramatic scenes on Wednesday afternoon as municipal Chairperson Ajitha Thankappan entered her office chamber, which was sealed on Monday by the municipal secretary as part of an inquiry by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) into allegations that the Chairperson and the ruling United Democratic Front council had paid ₹10,000 each to 43 members of the municipal council as an Onam gift. Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) councillors sat in protest before the office as the Chairperson entered the chamber around 2 p.m. The Thrikkakara police intervened to forcefully remove the LDF councillors after about two hours. The Chairperson examined some of the files before leaving the office around 5 p.m. The Chairperson could not be contacted for her comments. But a spokesman of the Congress party said that the allegations against the Chairperson were politically motivated. The Opposition LDF was trying to bring down the UDF council at any cost and the Opposition had been engaged in such efforts since the early days of the council assuming power.