CPI(M) and CPI councillors stage a walkout
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Chennai Corporation Councillors from the CPI(M) and CPI walked out of the council meeting on Tuesday (August 26, 2025), opposing the GCC’s decision to outsource conservancy operations to private agencies that pay lower wages. The councillors also condemned the move to evict peaceful protesters, including women, from the footpath of E.V.R Periyar Salai outside the Ripon Buildings on the night of August 13.
At the council meeting on Tuesday, in the presence of Mayor R. Priya, councillors R. Jayaraman (Ward 4) and A. Priyadharshini (Ward 96) of the CPI(M), along with M. Renuka of the CPI (Ward 42), demanded permanent jobs for the conservancy workers to protect their livelihood as they belonged to “socially and educationally weaker sections of society.”
To this, Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar said, “The government has provided a clear explanation for this [privatisation of conservancy work].”
When the councillors went on to state that removing the protesters from the protest site at night was “not right,” the Mayor and Deputy Mayor said a case on the matter is currently before the Madras High Court.
Then, ruling party (DMK) leader for the floor N. Ramalingam asked the councillors not to speak on the matter at the meeting.
As the three councillors walked out, demanding permanent jobs for the NULM workers, Mr. Ramalingam remarked: “You have always stood by the side of injustice.”
Addressing mediapersons outside the councill hall, CPI(M) councillor Jayaraman said: “The conservancy workers’ peaceful demonstration lasted 13 days. The manner in which the workers were removed at midnight is not acceptable. The Mayor claims that the workers were evicted following the order of the High Court. But the High Court has also ordered permanent jobs for the workers. Did the Chennai Corporation follow the order? Both DMK and AIADMK have outsourced conservancy operations to private companies,” he said.
Published – August 26, 2025 03:32 pm IST
