Kiran Gurrala, the young IAS officer who had only a three-month stint as Madurai Corporation Commissioner and was focusing on revamping the civic body administration till he was suddenly transferred last week, was the hot topic in the Corporation council meeting held on Thursday.
Even as new Commissioner C. Kathiravan was in the chair, the ruling party councillors referred to the former Commissioner’s short tenure. The councillors said the former Commissioner never sanctioned new projects until he was convinced with the genuineness of the works taken up.
With the dates for Parliament elections are set to be announced any time, the councillors set February 24 as deadline for Mr.Kathiravan to clear the files before him. “We had a horrid two-month period and now we are looking at you with hope. Please clear the files and projects at the tender stage and give the Chief Minister a birthday gift,” they said.
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When some councillors tried to criticise the former Commissioner for having acted independently, Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa instructed them not to speak about a person who was not in the house. A senior member requested the Mayor to look into the decision taken by Mr.Gurrala to delegate some of his powers to the Deputy Commissioner. “Should not the Commissioner take permission of the council to delegate powers to his deputy? Please look into the issue and the municipal administration rules,” the member said.
Many members referred to Mr.Gurrala’s tenure without naming him and wanted the Mayor to expedite the works at least now.
“We are having lots of expectations from Mr.Kathiravan. We can face elections only if works in our wards are completed,” said a woman councillor.
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The equation between the Mayor and the former Commissioner had remained a hot topic during the last three months and Mr.Chellappa was asked several times during press conferences about the reported differences between them.