BJP councillors protest with lanterns against power cuts at Kozhikode Corporation Council meeting

BJP councillors staged a protest with lanterns and later walked out of the Kozhikode Corporation Council meeting on Saturday (September 19) after Mayor O. Sadasivan rejected an adjournment motion moved by the party against power cuts in the State.

BJP councillor Nambidi Narayanan raised the issue soon after the council meeting began at 10.30 a.m., terming the power restrictions unscientific. He sought permission for a discussion on the adjournment motion against the severe power cuts being experienced across the State.

The Mayor, however, said the motion could not be admitted as the Model Code of Conduct was in force in connection with the by-election in the Kuttichira ward.

BJP councillors questioned whether the Model Code of Conduct applied to an adjournment motion. Mr. Sadasivan replied that, whatever the subject, the motion could not be admitted if it had a political context. He also said the issue raised by the BJP could not be resolved through a council resolution.

BJP councillor T. Raneesh said the issue had no political dimension. “Where else should we discuss the issue of power cuts?” he asked.

When the council proceeded with discussions on the agenda, BJP councillors placed lanterns on their heads and staged a protest from their seats.

The protest escalated when television journalists approached the BJP councillors in the council hall and recorded their statements using microphones. The Mayor objected to this, following which security personnel escorted the media persons away.

The BJP councillors moved in front of the Mayor’s dais and raised slogans before marching out of the council hall. They also staged a protest on the Corporation office premises.

The councillors returned to the council hall after about 15 minutes and took part in discussions on the other agenda items.