The United Democratic Front (UDF) observed a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Vadakara on Saturday seeking the resignation of municipal Chairperson P.P. Ranjini in connection with alleged financial irregularities.
The hartal was peaceful with almost all shops and commercial establishments remaining closed for the day. Vehicles plied without any hindrance in the town. All government departments functioned. Some private firms did not transact business.
UDF leaders M.C. Ibrahim, T. Kelu, and C. Balan said an audit report had indicted the municipal council for alleged irregularities in the construction of a shopping complex under the build-operate-and-transfer (BOT) scheme at Vadakara town. The council had caused a loss of Rs.17 crore to the State exchequer, the said.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M]-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), in power in the municipality, had been using undemocratic methods to stifle the opposition. The municipal chairperson refused to discuss the issue at the council meeting on Friday, they said.
An adjournment motion brought in by the opposition was rejected outright by the chairperson. At the same time, the rest of the agenda listed for the day were adopted at the council meeting without any discussion. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had already registered a case against the municipal chairperson, they said.
Ms. Ranjini told journalists that the UDF had been trying to create trouble in the council by raising the BOT issue unnecessarily. They were trying to scuttle all development projects, she said.
UDF allege highhandedness by municipal chairperson
Bid to scuttle development projects, says LDF
