Heated exchanges between members of AIADMK and DMK, expulsion of a councillor, and a walk out by the Opposition DMK, marked the beginning of the urgent meeting of the Coimbatore Corporation Council on Wednesday.
The meeting began with the reading out of a couplet from Thirukkural and administering a pledge against untouchability.
Immediately after, A. Nandakumar (DMK), raised the death of workers at the construction site of Under Ground Drainage at Kavundampalayam on Tuesday.
AIADMK councillors objected to the practice of members speaking without the permission of the chair resulting in heated exchanges between councillors.
Meena Loganathan (DMK) walked up to the well of the council hall in support of Mr. Nandakumar.
Chairman of North Zone P. Rajkumar (AIADMK) objected to Ms. Loganathan speaking about members' rights stating that an interview she gave to a weekly news magazine showed AIADMK councillors in bad light.
Resolution
He moved a resolution seeking the expulsion of the councillor from the house, which was passed by the house immediately. Mr. Nandakumar said no councillor had ever been removed from the house for remarks made in an interview and dubbed the decision of the Mayor as “autocratic and born out of brutal majority.”
The AIADMK councillors insisted that Ms. Loganathan leave the house immediately and the Mayor too stood by his decision prompting DMK coucillors to stage a walk out.
Later, Mr. Nadakumar told reporters here that Mayor was suppressing the voice of the Opposition so that problems concerning the people were not raised in the council meeting.
Ms. Loganathan accused the Mayor of resorting to intimidation.
She said that her actions in the council were well within her rights.
Explaining the reason behind the decision, Mayor told the council that the member was obstructing the proceedings of the house. Despite two repeated reminders she did not mend her ways.
He said that members should not walk into the well of the council hall.
Any attempts to waste the precious time of the council would not be tolerated, he added.
