Letter is fake, says Mayor and CPM district secretary; CPM caught in appointment controversy; Opposition and BJP demand Mayor's resignaton

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM on Saturday found itself on the defensive after a letter written on behalf of Thiruvanathapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran to CPM district secretary Anavoor Nagappan seeking a list of CPM workers for 295 temporary vacancies in the Corporation surfaced. After getting a new weapon against the government, the UDF and the BJP started an agitation demanding the mayor's resignation and an investigation. The Congress approached the State Election Commission demanding the resignation of the mayor for showing nepotism.

The corporation's argument that the letter was fake failed to gain strength as it was in the official letter pad of Mayor Arya Rajendran. The opposition interprets the letter in such a way that CPM district secretaries are the ones recommending people for temporary appointments.

The Governor is at loggerheads with the government over the alleged illegal appointment of relatives of CPM leaders in the state's universities. The letter controversy also strengthens the Governor's stand.

With the opposition taking up the issue by appealing to the sentiments of the unemployed, the CPM stepped up its efforts to put an end to the controversy. CPM and Mayor Arya Rajendran stated that the letter is fake and that legal action will be taken. The government has decided that the appointment to the 295 temporary vacancies in the corporation be made through the employment exchange. The Minister for Local Self-Governance, MB Rajesh said that the temporary vacancies will be filled soon.

When Anavoor Nagappan inquired about the issue to Arya, she replied that she had not prepared such a letter. Anavoor also said that the party leadership had not officially received the letter. Now, the question is how the letter, which was not received by the leadership, was circulated through WhatsApp groups.

The CPM is of the position that the mayor need not resign. According to the party, if it demands the resignation of Arya, it will mean that the party is admitting the mistake. The letter, which bears the Mayor's signature, however, does not have her seal.

The date mentioned in the letter is November 1. On that day, Arya was in Delhi to participate in a march organized by DYFI against unemployment. The mayor is alleging that this is a ploy against her.