Thiruvananthapuram | Police on Friday registered separate cases against BJP councillors, including Mayor V V Rajesh, and CPI(M) ward members following a clash at the City Corporation office here a day ago, officials said.
Based on a complaint lodged by CPI(M) councillor Sindhu Sasi, a case was registered against Mayor Rajesh, Deputy Mayor Asha Nath and BJP councillors Girikumar, Jaya Rajeev, Madhu, Gopan, Sumi Balu, R C Beena, Manju and Sruthy, police said.
Similarly, based on a complaint lodged by BJP councillor Sruthy S S, a case was registered against CPI(M) councillors SP Deepak, Rakhi Ravikumar, Chellamangalam Arun, Venugopal and Renjith, officials said.
Museum police registered the cases under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those relating to unlawful assembly, rioting, voluntarily causing hurt, intentional insult and wrongful restraint.
Police officials said the statements of the injured councillors had been recorded and an investigation was underway.
CPI(M) and BJP councillors clashed outside the chamber of Mayor Rajesh on Thursday.
The CPI(M) has been demanding the resignation of BJP councillor R Sugathan, who was recently arrested in an assault case and booked under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA).
The protest also came a day after the Kerala High Court invalidated the oath taken by several BJP councillors after they invoked names other than "God" or used expressions beyond the prescribed form of oath or solemn affirmation.
The CPI(M) has also alleged that the fresh oath taken by the BJP councillors following the High Court order was not in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
However, when Rajesh, accompanied by BJP councillors, attempted to enter his office, CPI(M) councillors allegedly blocked his entry, triggering a brief scuffle between members of the two sides, police said.
Several councillors, including Mayor Rajesh, sustained injuries in the clash and were shifted to hospital, police added.
The incident also triggered protests in various parts of Thiruvananthapuram.
The BJP-led NDA assumed power in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in December 2025, ending the LDF's 45-year rule by winning 50 of the 101 seats.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan accused Mayor Rajesh and Deputy Mayor Asha of triggering the confrontation.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, he claimed the confrontation began when the Mayor and Deputy Mayor entered the area where CPI(M) councillors were staging a protest.
He alleged that Rajesh and BJP councillors pushed through the protesters to enter the Mayor's office, resulting in injuries to several CPI(M) councillors.
"Councillors suffered injuries, including head injuries. Later, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor also went to hospital claiming they were victims. In reality, the confrontation was created by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor," he alleged.
On the other hand, Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar warned the CPI(M) against threatening the party's mayor and councillors, saying such actions would invite "serious consequences".
In a Facebook post, Chandrasekhar said it was time for the CPI(M) to learn to function within the framework of the Constitution and abide by the law.
"We respect the CPI(M)'s democratic right to protest. But if the party attempts to cross all limits and threaten our mayor or councillors, the consequences will be serious," he said.
