THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The corporation council meet witnessed unruly scenes on Saturday after CPM and BJP councillors clashed over disputes related to installation of high-mast lights in the city, leading to Mayor V K Prasanth suffering injuries in the scuffle. The Mayor, along with a number of councillors from both sides were admitted to hospitals.The unprecedented attack on the Mayor invited severe criticism. The CPM alleged that local BJP workers entered the corporation office and attacked the Mayor. Meanwhile the BJP has called for observing a protest day in the district on Sunday.
The Mayor, who suffered injuries to his head and right leg in the scuffle, was admitted to the critical care unit in the Medical College Hospital. His condition is stable, said the Medical College authorities. CPM councillors Raziya and Sindhu and the Mayor’s personal assistant B Mohan were also admitted to the Medical College. Three BJP councillors V G Girikumar, R C Beena and M Lekshmi, who were injured in the clashes are under treatment at the General Hospital. They said they were attacked by the CPM councillors led by I P Binu.
The incident took place around 1.30 pm when the Mayor was proceeding to his office after the council meeting. The BJP councillors stopped him raising slogans against the move to sent letters to MPs and MLAs on imposing restrictions on installing high-mast lights in the city.
This led to a clash between BJP and CPM councillors and the Mayor, caught in the scuffle, fell near the stairs. Soon the police rushed to the spot and took the Mayor to the hospital.