THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: During Saturday’s attack, when BJP councillors blocked Mayor V K Prasanth, a government servant, who had no role to play in any political tussle, also had to be taken to Government Medical College Hospital. Mayor’s Dafedar V Mohanan Nair, whose heart rate and BP had shot up during the incident, looked better on Sunday. “It was all so sudden. But now I feel ok. The BP and blood sugar levels will have to be monitored. I have been given medicines,” he said.
He has protested shouting ‘Inquilab’ during school days and got enrolled in the staff union. Other than that, he did not dabble in politics. He got caught in Saturday’s commotion only because he was required to stay close to the Mayor. When asked if he would be afraid to continue in the post, he said, “I am 50 now. Why should I be afraid? I will continue as the Mayor’s Dafedar until retirement.”
He said that he has heard about a Dafedar who lost his teeth, and others who have had it worse than him.
It may be noted that Dafedar’s posts in several government offices have been lying vacant. Those appointed seek transfers, as they are required to be with the Mayor or Collector for longer than the usual government office hours. But he took great pride in being a Dafedar. “It is the seniormost office assistant at a municipal or city corporation who becomes the Mayor’s Dafedar. I got a promotion eight months ago,” he said.
