KOCHI: Political turmoil at Thrikkakara municipality takes a new turn with a vigilance inspection at the municipal office on Wednesday. The inspection is part of a preliminary inquiry into three complaints filed by opposition LDF to the vigilance director. They examined files related to the posting of a contingency worker when model code of conduct was in place, distribution of food kits for Covid affected families, and the alleged corruption in cleaning of canals and drains.
“We examined the files as part of our preliminary inquiry into the complaints. The registration of cases will be done only after verifying the facts,” said a vigilance official. As the secretary and superintendent were not present at the office, the team met revenue officials and examined the files. However, municipality officials termed the inspection a routine procedure.
As per the complaint to the Vigilance DySP, the opposition alleged corruption in works awarded for cleaning drains and canals. They alleged that the chairperson and public works standing committee chairperson opened 15 quotations in the absence of secretary and assistant executive engineer and rejected 11 of it without completing tender procedures, and this led to huge financial loss to the local body. The quotations were given to the contractors at the special interest of the governing council.
The LDF further alleged that the local body bought 4,300 food kits without inviting quotations or meeting tender procedures. It also alleged that the chairperson gave prior permission to appoint a daily wage driver as a cleaning staff while the model code of conduct was in place. The opposition will meet higher authorities on Thursday as the vigilance has not started a probe into the latest complaint regarding the ‘gift’ row by Chairperson Ajitha Thankappan.
Meanwhile, the UDF termed the complaints as political vendetta on the part of the opposition to snatch power. “The LDF wants to snatch power from the UDF in Thrikkakara and Kalamassery municipalities and that is why they resort to baseless allegations,” said municipality vice-chairman Ibrahim Kutty.
The two member team constituted by the Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) to probe into the gift row will submit its report to the DCC president on Thursday. The report is learnt to have given a clean chit to the chairperson terming the current controversy is related to internal conflict in the party.
While the indefinite strike of the LDF demanding resignation of the chairperson continues in front of the local body. DYFI staged a protest on Wednesday. The Chief Minister’s office has forwarded the complaint given by the LDF regarding the gift row to the VACB director.
