‘Mayor Care’ Onam kits spark row in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led administration in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has landed in a controversy after the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) alleged improprieties in the ‘Mayor Care’ initiative under which Onam kits were distributed to Corporation employees after collecting gifts and donations from commercial establishments.

LDF Parliamentary Party leader S.P. Deepak alleged that Mayor V.V. Rajesh’s act of accepting gifts worth lakhs from major commercial establishments in the city and distributing gifts to employees earning lakhs and councillors who are public servants is a serious abuse of power. The LDF, which has filed a complaint in this regard with the Minister for Local Self Governments, has demanded the State government to intervene in the matter and conduct a comprehensive investigation.

‘Abuse of power’

Mayor V.V.Rajesh, who was not reachable for comment, had on the day of distribution last week said that the Corporation had not spent a single penny from its own fund to hand over kits to all employees, irrespective of their political affiliation. The LDF has alleged that clothes and other items were delivered to the Corporation from major real estate firms, malls and clothing stores in the name of ‘Mayor Care’. 

“It is a serious abuse of power to accept gifts from private commercial establishments despite the existence of clear norms approved by the municipal council and the government. It should also be investigated whether the Corporation has extended any undue benefits to the establishments that gave the gifts. If donations have been received from international corporate institutions operating in the capital in the name of the ‘Mayor Care’ scheme, the details should also be disclosed. It has also been reported that even the meal for the Onam celebration programme organised by the employees at the Corporation office was provided free of charge by a large catering company in the city,” said Mr. Deepak.

He said that it is ironic that the head of the Corporation, which is responsible for inspecting and taking action against illegal constructions, is accepting such freebies and gifts from large establishments. In the past, employees and councillors used to organise Onam celebrations and sadya by pooling in their own money.

The LDF has also raised questions on the distribution of educational kits for students. It alleged that though kits worth lakhs of rupees were received from large corporate institutions, less than 250 students have received them. The Mayor should clarify the number of kits received, their value, the number of kits distributed and the utilisation of the remaining funds, said Mr. Deepak.