Opposition in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council demands Vigilance probe into alleged corruption in ‘Mayor Care’ scheme
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Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Mayor V. V. Rajesh chairing a council meeting in the city on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
The ‘Mayor Care’ initiative of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led administration in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation came under a cloud after both the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) demanded a Vigilance probe into the alleged corruption over the distribution of Onam kits for Corporation employees as well as school kits for students. The kits were distributed after collecting gifts and donations from commercial establishments.
Soon after the distribution of Onam kits last month, the LDF had alleged improprieties, calling Mayor V.V. Rajesh’s act of accepting gifts worth lakhs from major commercial establishments in the city and distributing gifts to employees earning lakhs and councillors who are public servants a serious abuse of power.
On Tuesday, UDF Parliamentary Party leader K.S. Sabarinadhan alleged widespread corruption in the ‘Mayor Care’ scheme. Presenting a Right to Information (RTI) reply that he got regarding the scheme, Mr. Sabarinadhan said that although it was announced that the kits would be distributed to 10,000 students under the ‘Mayor Care’ scheme when schools reopened in June, only 4,000 students actually received them.
“Official figures regarding the income and expenditure for this initiative have not yet been released. Similarly, crores of rupees were collected from small as well as big business establishments across the city for ‘Onam kits.’ However, the Mayor maintains that since these funds were not deposited into the Corporation’s own accounts, there is no obligation to present the figures before the council. Business establishments contribute, often through CSR funds, under the impression that this is an official Corporation programme, given that the solicitation letters are issued on the Mayor’s official letterhead,” he said.
In a statement later, he said that not only are the relevant records not being submitted to the council, but the Mayor also displayed arrogance when asked for documentation, stating that it was not possible to produce the figures. Mr. Sabarinadhan said the UDF intends to pursue legal action regarding this matter.
S.P. Deepak, the LDF Parliamentary Party leader, alleged that several private individuals were coerced into contributing. He alleged that recent inspections at major restaurants targeted business owners who refused to provide such contributions. Large-scale corruption was involved in the eviction of street-side food stalls before Onam and their subsequent reinstatement during the festival.
“The Mayor is evicting poor street vendors to benefit BJP sympathisers. Even after media reports brought illegal constructions to light, unchecked building activity continues at those sites. Massive corruption is taking place through compromises,” said Mr. Deepak.
The Mayor maintained that there was no impropriety as the Corporation did not spend money from its coffers for the ‘Mayor Care’ scheme, nor did it collect money for the purpose. It only handed over the kits provided by various institutions to the beneficiaries. He said that the administration will continue with similar schemes in the future too.
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