The first half-an-hour or so of the Coimbatore Corporation Council meeting on Monday was spent debating which of the two parties – the ruling AIADMK or the Opposition DMK – had followed the council’s tradition and which one had violated.
The debate turned ugly when the councillors from the two parties traded charges, abused and heckled one another. And, it came to an end when the DMK councillors left the council hall.
Soon thereafter, the Mayor, P. Rajkumar, announced the suspension of DMK councillor representing Ward 49 Meena Loganathan for the next three council meetings.
He also asked Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan to explore the possibility of initiating criminal action against Ms. Loganathan.
Floor leader of DMK A. Nandhakumar alleged that the ruling AIADMK had pushed them out of the council hall so as to ensure the passage of important resolutions in their absence.
The most important one being fixation of user charges for residents for using underground drainage scheme.
The issue started with Ward 23 councillor S. Manimeghalai (AIADMK) drawing the Mayor’s and AIADMK councillors’ attention to Ms. Loganathan throwing open a dining hall at the Coimbatore Corporation school in Rathinapuri.
Ms. Loganathan inaugurating the hall without waiting for Mayor or Commissioner to inaugurate, which is the norm, and in the presence of media smacked of her desire to hog the media limelight.
In the past, no councillor had behaved in such a fashion, violating the norms and tradition of the council, Ms. Manimeghalai added.
To counter the charges, Ward 61 councillor S.M. Samy (DMK) said there had been instances in his ward wherein he was ignored for Corporation-related events.
The Member of Legislative Assembly of the area concerned had suo moto thrown open public taps and therefore if the council were to pass strictures against Ms. Loganathan it should also include the MLA as well.
Mr. Samy’s comments escalated the issue with both the AIADMK and DMK councillors saying the other was not qualified to comment on discipline or Corporation norms.
Mayor P. Rajkumar intervened in the matter to say that while it was natural for councillors to seek publicity they should not stoop to the level of mongering for publicity.
Speaking to the media outside the council hall, Mr. Nandhakumar said that the ruling AIADMK pushed out the DMK councillors, who were ready for the smooth conduct of the council.
“They do not want our presence while taking up the UGD user charge resolution and others.”
