Noisy scenes disrupted the proceedings of the urgent meeting of the Tiruchirappalli City Corporation Council convened here on Tuesday following animated exchanges between the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kahzagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over the proposed hike in deposit for water connection, building plan approvals and others. The meeting came to an abrupt end within 10 minutes from the commencement of it. Amidst unruly scenes and confusion, Mayor A. Jaya left the council hall in a huff. AIADMK councillors followed her.
Trouble began when the DMK floor leader T. Muthuselvam questioned the move to raise deposit rate for water connection and fee for plan approvals. While claiming that no concrete development work had taken place during the last three and half years, he said the corporation was always trying to burden the people further by increasing tax on various heads. It was not right to increase taxes when the administration had done nothing to the people. Several councillors of the DMK as well as from opposition parties including the DMDK, the MDMK and the Congress rose in support of Muthuselvam. They blamed the “poor administration” for lacklustre development works in the city. Some of them claimed that no development works had taken place in their respective wards.
The AIADMK member Ayyappan, who stoutly opposed the DMK contention, said the members could raise issues only in the zero hour. It was not allowed in emergency meeting. Hence, the Mayor should start discussing the agenda. Following this, Jaya maintained that no one would be allowed to discuss anything other than agenda.
With the AIADMK members making counter offensive, chaotic scenes prevailed. As the situation turned worse, the Mayor left the council hall. The officials also followed suit. However, the DMK and other opposition members, who refused go out of the hall, staged a sit-in protest. They raised slogans against the Mayor. Later, Commissioner M. Vijayalakshmi, who came to the hall, held discussion with the agitating councillors.
