Onam protest: After CPI(M) rap, Kerala mayor says will revoke action against civic body staff

Rajendran’s action drew flak from social media users as well as the CPI(M), with party state secretary M V Govindan openly slamming the mayor. Govindan said Rajendran’s move was against the CPI(M) policy. CITU also sought the staffers’ reinstatement.

On Tuesday, Rajendran told reporters she will be reviewing her decision and added: “The suspension (of the staffers) was part of the probe. It should not be construed as an action against them. Further steps would be taken after consulting the party and the corporation council.”

On Onam, the punished staffers had reported early to work so as to finish well in time for the celebrations. Despite finishing their work, however, they said they were assigned additional duties by the civic body’s health wing, due to which they could not join other employees in the celebrations. Returning later in the day, they dumped the meals they had paid for from their own pocket in a dustbin.

While issuing the dismissal and suspension orders against the staff members, a furious Rajendran had called their protest a challenge to society. “They had acted in an inhuman manner and have no right to continue in service,” she had said.

This is not the first time Rajendran, who came into prominence in 2020 when she was elected mayor at the age of 21, drew her party’s ire.

Months ago, she triggered controversy by announcing to form sports teams of students based on their caste. Protests on social media and the intervention by the CPI(M) district leadership forced her to withdraw the decision later.