Mayor says steps under way to cancel order slashing staff in Thrissur Corporation’s electricity wing

Mayor of the Thrissur Corporation M.K. Varghese on Friday clarified that an order issued by the Local Self-Government department (LSGD) on September 12, which slashed the sanctioned posts in the Corporation’s electricity wing from 229 to 103, was taken without any involvement of the Corporation or its council.

He said from the very day the order was received, he had been taking steps in his capacity as Mayor to get it cancelled.

“Only the government and the LSGD department have the authority to cancel this order. I have been informed that the related procedures have already been initiated in the departments concerned,” the Mayor said.

He criticised the behaviour of Congress councillors during the meeting, alleging that after two of their senior leaders spoke, they created chaos in the council, refused to hear anyone else, and even tried to physically harass him. He termed it a grave criminal act and an attack on democratic functioning.

The Mayor said a meeting would be held in Thiruvananthapuram on September 23 by the Minister for Local Self-Governments to find a legal solution to the staff cut issue in the electricity wing.

He alleged that it was Congress governments that had historically pursued privatisation policies in the public sector, a path now followed by the BJP as well.