Tue Dec 30 18:29:47 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
The newly elected Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, V.V. Rajesh (BJP), is objecting to the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operating the city’s electric buses outside city limits. He alleges that KSRTC has been shifting the Corporation’s e-buses to other parts of the state due to political pressure. The ruling CPI(M) has criticized the Mayor’s decision to recall the buses. This issue follows another recent controversy involving the BJP and CPI(M) over office space allocation in a Corporation-owned building. The BJP recently won control of the city civic body, ending the Left’s four-decade-long hold.
News Article:
Thiruvananthapuram E-Bus Dispute Erupts as New Mayor Accuses KSRTC of Misuse
Thiruvananthapuram, India – December 30, 2025 – A political spat has erupted in Thiruvananthapuram over the use of the city’s electric bus fleet. Newly-elected Mayor V.V. Rajesh of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is accusing the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) of improperly operating the city-owned e-buses outside of their designated city limits.
Mayor Rajesh stated that KSRTC has been relocating the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation’s electric buses to other parts of the state, alleging that this was done under pressure from various political leaders. He pointed to an instance where one of the buses was found parked at a KSRTC garage in Neyyattinkara, outside the city. “How can a vehicle allotted to the city Corporation be kept at the Neyyattinkara garage?” the Mayor questioned, vowing to put an end to such practices.
The city’s e-bus project, funded under the Smart City Mission, involves the KSRTC operating 113 electric buses within Thiruvananthapuram to provide affordable public transportation.
The ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has strongly criticized the Mayor’s move to recall the buses. General Education Minister V. Sivankutty dismissed Rajesh’s allegations, employing a local proverb to mock the Mayor’s actions.
This controversy follows a recent dispute between BJP councillor R. Sreelekha and CPI(M) MLA V.K. Prasanth over the allocation of an office room in a Corporation building, highlighting the growing political tensions in the city. Congress leaders K.S. Sabarinadhan and K. Muraleedharan had also criticised the MLA in connection with that dispute.
The BJP recently gained control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, ending the Left’s 40-year dominance, adding a new layer of political complexity to the city’s administration. The ongoing e-bus dispute is likely to escalate further as both parties stake their claims.
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