Mon Jul 14 14:39:31 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council meeting devolved into chaos on Monday as the ruling LDF and opposition BJP traded corruption accusations. The BJP alleged the LDF favored a councilor in sanitation worker appointments, while the LDF accused BJP councilors of corruption. BJP women councilors occupied the Mayor’s chair, leading to police intervention and physical altercations. The meeting continued amidst sloganeering and the reading of agendas. The UDF alleged that disagreement about the distribution of sanitation worker roles between the LDF and the BJP led to the turmoil.

**News Article:**

**Thiruvananthapuram Council Meeting Descends into Chaos Amid Corruption Allegations**

**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, July 14, 2025** – A Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council meeting erupted in disorder on Monday as the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engaged in heated exchanges and physical altercations, stemming from mutual accusations of corruption.

The BJP alleged that the LDF had improperly included the name of Kazhakuttam councillor L.S. Kavitha in the list for sanitation worker appointments, insinuating favoritism and a deliberate delay in the appointment process. Countering this, the LDF accused BJP councillors P.V. Manju and G.S. Asha Nath of corruption, with allegations ranging from covering up misappropriated funds to collecting money from beneficiaries for Corporation application forms.

The situation escalated when BJP women councillors occupied the Mayor’s dais before the meeting’s scheduled start, demanding the Mayor’s resignation. LDF councillors responded with their own protests, demanding the resignation of the accused BJP councillors. Police intervention was required to remove the BJP councillors from the dais, resulting in a tense standoff and scuffles.

Despite the chaos, Mayor Arya Rajendran attempted to conduct the meeting, but further disruptions occurred as both sides continued their protests. Agendas related to standing committees were eventually read out amidst the ongoing sloganeering.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) weighed in, suggesting that the clashes stemmed from disagreements between the LDF and BJP over the distribution of sanitation worker positions. The accusations and counter-accusations have raised concerns about governance and transparency within the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

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