Kannur Corporation council meet disrupted amid CPI(M) protest over corruption allegations against Mayor

The Kannur Corporation Council meeting on Thursday collapsed within minutes after Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] councillors launched a fresh protest over corruption allegations levelled against Mayor Musilah Madathil in connection with the proposed ₹140-crore sewage treatment plant at Marakkarkandi.

The Opposition entered the hall with placards and slogans, echoing the charges raised a day earlier by CPI(M) district secretary K.K. Ragesh, who has accused the Mayor of approving the AMRUT project in violation of norms. As soon as the meeting began, CPI(M) councillors marched to the Mayor’s dais, chanting slogans and demanding a response to the allegations.

With the din rising, the Mayor quickly read out the agenda and declared the session over. Standing Committee chairman P.K. Ragesh attempted to raise a point of order, protesting against the late circulation of the emergency agenda, which councillors received only at 11 p.m on Thursday. But the Mayor left his seat soon after completing the formalities, ending the day’s business.

CPI(M) councillors continued their protest before walking out of the hall.

Members of the ruling front also gathered around the Mayor, chanting counter slogans.

A strong police deployment was maintained outside the council hall anticipating tension.

The uproar follows a detailed allegation by K.K. Ragesh that the Mayor issued written approval for the STP ahead of clearance from the State High Power Committee. He has also claimed that the tender, jointly submitted by Telangana-based firms Koya and Company and Ayyappa Infra Project, was routed through a pre-decided process designed to benefit the selected films. He alleged that the technical survey period was cut drastically and that provisions were added to eliminate competing bidders, enabling large-scale irregularities in the ₹140-crore contract.

Mr. Ragesh further said that similar cost escalation was seen in a Kozhikode project handled by the same firms and accused the Kannur Corporation of attempting to repeat that model. He maintained that the Local Self-Government department has now stopped the project and that Vigilance complaints have been filed.

Mayor rejects charges

Meanwhile, the Mayor rejected the charges, calling the protest “a political attempt to divert attention” from issues affecting the State government.

He countered that the financial record of Mr. Ragesh, who has served one term in Rajya Sabha, should also be examined.

The Mayor said he would disclose details on Friday.