Why BJP is on the brink of losing its only Kerala civic body

The BJP is in danger of losing control of the only municipal corporation it rules in Kerala with the Congress-led UDF planning to move a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led administration in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, where it has a fragile majority.

UDF Parliamentary Party leader KS Sabarinathan announced that the opposition would stage a protest in front of the Corporation office on June 29 and initiate further steps towards the no-confidence motion thereafter.

Accusing the BJP administration of "administrative paralysis" and mismanagement during its first six months in office, Sabarinathan said the civic body had failed to tackle the city's mounting waste-management problems, the stray-dog menace, and drinking-water shortages. He also alleged that the ruling dispensation had failed to present a vision for the future of the state capital despite promises of major development from the Centre.

BJP’s troubles

The UDF's offensive comes at a time when the BJP-led NDA is facing political and numerical difficulties. BJP councillor R Sugathan was arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) in connection with an alleged assault case and remains in jail.

Adding to the BJP's troubles, the Kerala High Court invalidated the oath taken by 20 BJP councillors, including Sugathan, holding that they had deviated from the prescribed format by invoking specific deities and "Bharat Mata".

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Although the other 19 councillors hurriedly retook the oath, Sugathan could not do so because he was in custody.

As a result, Sugathan has not been sworn in, leaving the NDA effectively one member short of the 51-seat majority mark in the Corporation Council. The alliance's majority currently hinges on the support of independent councillor Pattoor Radhakrishnan.

Clashes in Corporation office

Opposition parties had intensified their campaign against Sugathan, and the issue became a major point of confrontation inside the corporation. The LDF demanded his resignation and accused the corporation leadership of protecting him despite the allegations. The campaign steadily escalated over the past several weeks and eventually became the focal point of opposition protests.

By Thursday morning (June 25), tensions at the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation had escalated into a full-blown confrontation. LDF councillors staged a protest in front of the Mayor’s office, blocking entry. When the Mayor and Deputy Mayor attempted to enter with police protection, protesters tried to stop them, leading to a physical clash. The situation quickly spiralled into chaos with councillors pushing and shoving each other. Police personnel and journalists were also caught in the commotion. Several people from different sides were injured before order was eventually restored.

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The images emerging from the corporation headquarters painted a troubling picture. Kerala's largest municipal corporation had become the stage for scenes more commonly associated with street protests than civic governance.

Against this backdrop, the UDF believes the timing is favourable to politically corner the BJP and test the stability of its administration through a no-confidence motion.

With Sugathan effectively out of the House, the NDA's strength has dropped to 50 in the 101-member council, leaving it one short of the 51 required for a majority.

Will LDF support UDF’s no-confidence motion?

The move is also likely to test whether the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), which has mounted strong protests against the BJP administration, will support the UDF's no-confidence motion. The LDF has 29 councillors and the UDF 20, giving the opposition a combined strength of 49.

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While that is still below the majority mark, any absence, abstention, or shift in support during the vote could make the proceedings politically significant and increase pressure on the BJP-led administration.

(With agency inputs)