Budget passed as UDF boycotts meet

Thiruvananthpuram: The 2017-2018 budget was passed, as UDF, half-an-hour before the budget was put to vote, orchestrated a boycott. With a show of hands, 44 LDF councillors offered support and 35 BJP councillors opposed it. Last year too the UDF had boycotted the budget voting. IUML's Beemapally Rasheed said that they are boycotting it as they have had enough of the allegations and counter-allegations raised by LDF and BJP councillors.

The budget estimates Rs 50 crores as property tax arrears. Congress (S) councillor Palayam Rajan said that for years Corporation has been unable to collect property tax arrears, and it should not be counted as revenue. In her reply, Deputy Mayor Rakhi Ravikumar said that the Corporation would be launching a revenue recovery drive. There was a discussion on the Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund not being substantial to make any difference. CPM's S Pushpalatha was the first to point it out. The Deputy Mayor said that the government should amend laws, as there are limitations on the amount Mayor can spend.   

The meeting was rocked by various allegations. In the morning session BJP's Smi Jyothish faced censure as the tax appeal committee, which she chairs, granted tax relief to Technopark. BJP's Anilkumar K alleged improper dealings in E K Nayanar Charitable Trust using Ulloor Rest House, while Karamana Ajith alleged that LDF's S Pushpalatha was corrupt. Mayor V.K. Prasanth asked Ajith to either give his allegation in writing with specific details or retract from his statement. It was during this row that the UDF announced their decision of boycott. Their slogans alleged corruption and unholy alliance between BJP and LDF.