Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram Mayor leans on United Democratic Front government circular to grant 6 months leave to councillor R. Sugathan who is jailed under KAAPA

Amid vociferous protests by the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF), a council meeting of the Thiruvananthapuram city Corporation on Friday granted six months of leave to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor R. Sugathan, who was arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) and currently lodged at the high-security correctional facility at Viyyur Central Prison in Thrissur in Kerala.

The leave application submitted through the Superintendent of the Viyyur Central Jail was put to vote and passed with 51 votes in the 101-member council. The number was achieved with the help of Independent councillor Sudheesh Kumar of the Poundkadavu ward as well as Mayor V.V. Rajesh’s casting vote.

Letter from Home department

The Mayor said that the protesting UDF councillors should honour a letter from the UDF government’s Home department on July 20, 2026 in response to Mr. Sugathan’s request for an escort parole to take part in the council meeting. Although the Home department rejected the application, it suggested that he can approach the Corporation council through the Jail Superintendent. If the application is passed in the council through voting, his councillor post will be “safe,” as per the letter read out by the Mayor.

Even as the Mayor officially declared the granting of leave, the LDF and UDF councillors trooped out to the well holding placards and raising slogans. Just before the Mayor read out the leave application, he called out an architect, who made a presentation on the proposed new building for the Corporation. Three floors of the proposed building with a design similar to a shopping mall are meant for commercial purposes.

Denied microphone

Following the presentation, BJP councillor V.G. Girikumar made a statement welcoming the move amid loud claps by the BJP councillors. Although LDF Parliamentary Party leader S.P. Deepak rose to speak about the building proposal, the Mayor disallowed his request and asked the microphone operators to cut Mr. Deepak’s microphone.

The Mayor remained adamant on the stand that Mr. Sugathan’s leave application be discussed first. Amid the protests, the council meeting soon came to an end with the Mayor declaring the passing of over 200 agenda items without any discussion.

To move legally

Both the LDF and UDF, which are planning to legally challenge the Mayor’s move to grant leave to Mr. Sugathan, filed formal complaints to the Corporation Secretary. Congress councillor K.S. Sabarinadhan questioned the Mayor on the particular clauses of the Kerala Municipality Act under which the leave was granted. He said that the Section 91 K of the Act does not specify a voting process to grant leave. The section related to granting leave was misinterpreted to benefit Mr. Sugathan, he alleged.

Mr. Deepak said that the Mayor and the BJP are sending out a message that they will destroy all democratic values to protect a hardened criminal. “The stances taken by the Mayor in the council meeting today are undemocratic, illegal and unilateral. There is no provision in the municipality Act to grant special leave or exemption to a councillor who is under detention. The ₹300-crore new office building project reveals the anti-people approach of the BJP administration, which prioritises luxury projects while ignoring the basic needs of the people,” he said.

Congress rebel

Meanwhile, Mr. Sudheesh Kumar, a Congress rebel, said that his support was for Mr. Sugathan and not the BJP. When asked whether he will support the BJP in the future meetings, he said he will stand with them if they did good work.

Speaking to press persons, Mr. Rajesh said that it is unfortunate that the Opposition has accused the Independent councillor of accepting money to vote in favour of the BJP.