Opposition dishonoured sanctity of council: Mayor Prof A K Premajam

KOZHIKODE: Two-days after the UDF councillors staged a protest against the Mayor’s decision not to entertain their adjournment motion and her subsequent decision to hold a special council meeting on Friday to discuss issues raised by them, Kozhikode Municipal Corporation Mayor Prof A.K Premajam lashed out at the opposition for dishonouring the Mayorship and the sanctity of the Council.

She alleged that the opposition councilors, during the protest, sat on the Mayor’s chair and also let in outsiders into the Council Hall.

“The Council Hall and the Mayor’s post have their own dignity in a democratic set-up and by dishonouring that, the Opposition councillors actually insulted not only the Corporation Council but democracy also. Such acts should be condemned,” she said. 

The Mayor added that she took decisions based on rules and the people would realise the political motive behind the protest by the UDF councillors raising “silly” issues.

“I had agreed to their demand for calling a special meeting to discuss development issues in the City. However at that time, they argued that public works be included in the agenda. Obviously, the public works are a part of the City’s development issues and the councilors proved that they have not understood the term development in its fullest sense,” she added.

High drama was witnessed at Kozhikode Municipal Corporation last Friday, when the council meeting was marred after the Mayor denied permission for an adjournment motion moved by Opposition Deputy Leader K Muhammedali, criticising the Mayor and Corporation for failure to complete public works undertaken in the city.

UDF members started protesting inside the Council hall for more than 24 hours which ended only after the Mayor agreed to call a special council to discuss the issue.