A monthly ritual was enacted yet again at the Corporation Council meeting held here on Friday. It has become a custom for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) councillors to wear black shirts to the Council meeting every month and for their All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) counterparts to go red on seeing this.
On Friday’s Council meeting too, the same thing happened, and as usual Mayor V.V.Rajan Chellappa had to call the police to evict the Councillors dressed in black.
When the AIADMK Councillors objected to their DMK counterparts wearing black shirts to the meeting, the Mayor told the latter to go out, change their shirts and come back for the meeting. He also wanted to know the reason why they were wearing black shirts.
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There were heated exchanges between both the groups and the arrival of the police did not help bring down the tempers. “You are welcome to attend the meeting in another dress…but definitely not black. If the entire DMK group is coming in black shirts, it is an insult to the Council,” Mr.Chellappa said.
When the drama continued for about 20 minutes, the Mayor ordered the eviction of the DMK members. After the police intervention, the DMK members walked out of the hall.
Even as chaos prevailed at the meeting with the Councillors shouting slogans, several outsiders trespassed into the hall despite the presence of watch and ward staff. The curious outsiders walked in freely to witness the chaotic scenes unfolding at the hall.
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After a few media persons alerted the gate duty staff, they sent them away but some had managed to go near the front rows. When the Mayor was told about the presence of outsiders at the meeting hall, he instructed the Corporation staff and security personnel to send them out and step up vigil at the entry points.
Mr.Chellappa also warned the DMK Councillors that criminal action might be recommended against them for obstructing the Council proceedings.
Corporation Commissioner R.Nanthagopal, Deputy Mayor R.Gopalakrishnan, senior officials and woman Councillors had to remain silent till normality returned.