KOCHI: The opposition LDF has decided to start an indefinite protest from Tuesday against the Onam ‘gift’ controversy at Thrikkakara municipality.
A meeting of LDF Thikkakara municipal committee on Monday has decided to put pressure on the ruling UDF for the resignation of municipal chairperson Ajitha Thankappan, who landed herself in the soup over the alleged gifting of Rs 10,000 to councillors along with ‘Onakkodi’.
It has been decided to conduct protest in front of the municipal office from 10.30am to 12 noon every day, until Thankappan resigns from her post.
“We will examine the progress of the protest in the first one week. The committee will review it after that and discuss on the future course of action. On Tuesday. LDF Thrikkakara municipal committee will protest in front of the municipal office on Tuesday and DYFI the next day,” said Ernakulam CPM district committee member from Thrikkakara C K Pareeth.
Municipality former chairman K P Eldho will inaugurate the protest on Tuesday. Pareeth said the protesters would follow Covid protocols. “A poster campaign will also be launched and the posters will be pasted in all wards demanding the resignation of the chairperson. The protesters will also seek an apology from P T Thomas, MLA, who supported the chairperson in the matter,” Pareeth said.
Labour unions affiliated to the political parties belonging to the LDF and other wings will join the protest.
Meanwhile, Ernakulam district Congress committee has entrusted two leaders to probe into the controversy. “We have entrusted DCC vice-president Mohammed Shiyas and general secretary K Sreedharan to conduct an inquiry into the issue. They will submit report at the earliest,” said DCC president T J Vinod.
Even though an inquiry has been ordered in the controversy, UDF is maintaining that the current issue targets the chairperson. A Congress councillor coming out against the chairperson, has put the party in a spot.
“Ever since Thankappan was made the chairperson, there was opposition against her even within the party circles. As a Congress councillor himself has come forward complaining that he was gifted with Rs 10,000 along with Onakkodi by the chairperson, party will hear both sides. The probe team will hear other councillors in person on Tuesday. Hearing of Thankappan will be held in the final stage only,” said a Congress leader.
LDF councillors also raised apprehension that there would be an attempt to destroy CCTV evidence against the chairperson in the ‘Onakkodi’ issue.
