How BJP-ruled Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has become a political battleground

The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation was expected to mark the beginning of a new political chapter after the BJP's historic victory in Kerala's capital, where it secured control of the civic body for the first time. Instead, the city's civic administration has spent much of the past few months moving from one controversy to another.

A swearing-in ceremony that was meant to be a routine constitutional exercise ended up in court. A High Court verdict questioning the validity of the oath taken by several councillors triggered a hurried re-oath ceremony. Simultaneously, a separate political battle over KAAPA (Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act)-accused councillor R Sugathan gathered momentum.

Physical confrontation

On Thursday (June 25), all these tensions finally spilled into a physical confrontation inside the corporation premises, leaving councillors, police personnel and media workers injured.

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The story began in December when the newly elected Council assembled for its swearing-in ceremony. For the BJP, which had captured the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation for the first time, it was a moment of celebration. Party workers and councillors approached the occasion with visible enthusiasm. What followed, however, soon attracted criticism and legal scrutiny.

Several BJP councillors did not restrict themselves to the statutory oath prescribed under the Kerala Municipality Act. While taking oath, many invoked deities and figures of faith that they personally worshipped. Names such as Attukal Amma, Lord Ayyappa and Sree Padmanabhaswamy found their way into the ceremony. Some councillors invoked Bharat Mata while others referred to political icons and martyrs. Quite a few concluded their oath by loudly raising the slogan "Bharat Mata Ki Jai". The atmosphere resembled a victory celebration as much as it did a constitutional ceremony.

Issue reaches Kerala HC

The events of that day quickly became a political controversy. Opposition councillors argued that the law did not permit elected representatives to modify the wording of a statutory oath. The issue eventually reached the Kerala High Court through a petition filed by CPM councillor and parliamentary party leader SP Deepak.

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This week, the High Court delivered a verdict that fundamentally altered the political conversation around the corporation. The court observed that the law provides only two options. A councillor can either take the oath in the name of God or make a solemn affirmation. The addition of specific deities, Bharat Mata, political leaders or any other references falls outside the format prescribed by law.

The court consequently invalidated the oaths taken by 20 councillors. At the same time, it ensured that decisions already taken by the corporation would remain valid so that civic administration would not be disrupted. The verdict carried both legal and political significance. It was not merely about the wording of an oath. It was a reminder that constitutional procedures cannot be altered according to personal beliefs or political enthusiasm.

Although the court had allowed time for fresh oaths to be taken, the corporation administration moved with remarkable speed. By Wednesday, 19 BJP councillors had retaken their oath in the legally prescribed format. The haste itself became a talking point. Opposition councillors questioned why there was such urgency and accused the administration of attempting to contain the political damage caused by the verdict.

At the same time, another controversy was gathering strength.

Campaign against Sugathan

Opposition parties had intensified their campaign against BJP councillor Sugathan, whose name had figured in an attempted murder case, which attracted KAAPA due to his criminal antecedents. 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, 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.

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.

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For the BJP administration, which entered office promising a new era in the governance of the capital city, the first months in power have been overshadowed by controversies rather than civic achievements. For the Opposition, the controversies have provided an opportunity to keep sustained pressure on the ruling front.

"The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation cannot be allowed to function as an RSS office. When constitutional procedures and legal provisions are set aside in favour of religious symbols, slogans and political posturing, the Left will not remain a silent spectator. The Kerala High Court's decision to invalidate the oath taken by 20 BJP councillors is a victory for the legal battle waged by the CPI(M)," said AA Rahim, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP.

"The court has made it clear that statutory oaths cannot be altered to accommodate political or religious messaging. The BJP administration in the corporation has been engaging in unlawful practices from the very moment of the swearing-in ceremony. This verdict reinforces the principles of secularism and democracy and marks an important victory in the struggle against attempts by the Sangh Parivar to dilute those values," added Rahim.

'Not a setback from High Court'

Mayor VV Rajesh said that the High Court verdict should not be seen as a setback while defending the actions of the councillors.

"This is not a setback from the High Court. The court has only made an observation and delivered its judgment. The councillors will comply with the verdict. This has happened before as well in similar situations. But we had not approached the court with any complaint. We are people who always respect and follow court orders, and we are mentally prepared to do so. Those who filed the complaint have chosen to ignore several other things that were also said," he said.

The High Court may have settled the immediate questions surrounding the validity of the oath. The fresh oath-taking ceremony may have addressed the legal problem. Yet the larger political conflict inside the corporation appears far from over. Thursday's violence demonstrated that the battle has moved beyond legal arguments and procedural disputes. It has become a broader struggle over political legitimacy, accountability and control of Kerala's most prominent civic institution.