Thiruvananthapuram | Noisy scenes were witnessed at the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation council meeting on Friday after the ruling BJP secured approval for a six-month leave for its councillor, R Sugathan, who is currently lodged in jail under the KAAPA.
The move triggered strong protests from the opposition.
The leave application of the Vazhottukonam ward councillor was passed with the support of the BJP members and independent councillor Sudheesh.
Mayor V V Rajesh exercised his casting vote in favour of the application after it secured the support of 51 members in the 101-member council.
The opposition UDF and LDF members staged protests inside the council hall by raising slogans against what they termed an attempt to protect a councillor jailed under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA).
Opposition members stood in front of the Mayor's podium and continued their protest, alleging that the move was illegal and undemocratic.
During the meeting, UDF leader K S Sabarinadhan questioned the Mayor under which provision of the Kerala Municipality Act the leave was being granted to a councillor lodged in preventive detention.
LDF parliamentary party leader S P Deepak alleged that the Mayor was shielding a KAAPA detainee through an illegal and anti-democratic move and said the opposition would launch a legal fight against the decision.
Addressing a press conference after the council meeting, Mayor Rajesh said Sugathan had submitted a leave application, which was duly approved by the council in accordance with the Kerala Municipality Act.
He said the application received the support of the ruling front and independent councillor Sudheesh.
Rajesh said he exercised his casting vote as the Mayor had a responsibility to protect the membership of an elected representative.
The Mayor further said based on the request of the jailed councillor, a circular had been issued by the state Home Department which clearly states that he can protect his councillorship if a leave application is submitted to the council and if that is accepted.
According to him, Sugathan submitted the application to the Viyyur Jail Superintendent, who forwarded it through the proper channel to the Corporation by post.
Sources said the jailed councillor would have faced disqualification if he had remained absent from Friday's council meeting without obtaining sanctioned leave.
Sugathan, accused in many criminal.csses, had faced preventive detention under the KAAPA and was arrested from his home in the state capital last month following dramatic scenes.
Police had to fire in the air to disperse a crowd and prevent further violence while arresting him.
He was arrested after Kerala High Court denied him anticipatory bail in an alleged assault case linked to a temple festival.
The BJP assumed control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation following the 2025 local body elections, in which it emerged as the single largest party by winning 50 seats in the 101-member civic body.
