Mayor handed over appointment authority to CPM district secretary; Congress councillors protests by conducting purification ritual in corporation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A purification ritual has been conducted by UDF councillors as part of opposition protest in Municipal corporation against Mayor Rajendran in letter row. The UDF protest alleged that corrupt administration is happening in Thiruvananthapuram Municipal and that the Mayor has transferred appointment authority to party district secretary.

The purification ritual was performed amid rising allegations that the government is trying to erase the letter row. Opposition parties who protests demanding the mayor's resignation have alleged that the government is not ready to register the case and conduct further investigation because of that. The crime branch conducted an investigation and submitted a preliminary report without registering the case. The authorities are justifying the delay in further investigation by citing that the DGP and the crime branch ADGP are on leave. The crime branch found that the letter was fake. However, neither its source nor the original letter has been found.

The opposition has decided to continue protests over the letter controversy. The BJP's stance is that they will release more appointment lists and the protest will continue until the mayor steps down. Congress has decided to expand the protest state-wide. The Congress’ move is to pressurize by protesting in the municipal corporation through the councillors and outside through the Congress workers.