The Hindu : LDF gives notice for special council

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

LDF gives notice for special council

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM March 7. Two days after the violent incidents, which rocked the City Corporation headquarters, both the ruling LDF and the Opposition UDF seem to be in a conciliatory mood. On Friday, there seemed to be a marked decline in the hostilities between the rival fronts though the war of words persisted.

The UDF district committee organised a hunger strike in front of the Martyr's Column at Palayam to protest the vandalism of Mahatma Gandhi's picture inside the Corporation office, allegedly by LDF councillors. The senior Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, MP, who was scheduled to address the gathering failed to turn up. Earlier, police prevented UDF workers from putting up a shamiana for the function. The DCC leaders and UDF councillors participated in the hunger strike.

The LDF council party today postponed its scheduled dharna in front of the Corporation office demanding action against the UDF workers who had detained the Mayor. The LDF leaders said they would continue the stir if the police failed to act soon.

The LDF council party today gave notice for a special meeting of the Corporation council on March 12 to discuss the issue. The LDF parliamentary party leader, K.C. Vikraman, and others met the Mayor and handed over the request to convene the meeting.

The UDF leadership is meeting on Monday morning to finalise its strategy. Senior UDF leaders said they would meet in the car porch of the Corporation office to protest the Mayor's decision to deny them the use of the parliamentary party office.

They said the reported move by the Mayor to convene an all-party meeting on the issue would be welcome. They also said the protests would not affect the budget preparation exercise.

A press note issued by the Thampanoor councillor, Satheesh, said the police action to deny the erection of a shamiana for the UDF dharna was undemocratic. He alleged that the CPI(M) was harbouring criminal elements in the Corporation office.

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