Kerala Home department withdraws letter used by BJP councillor R. Sugathan to secure leave
The letter, dated July 20 and signed by an under secretary on behalf of the Additional Chief Secretary, was sent to Sugathan in response to his request for an escort parole to take part in the council meeting on July 31
On Thursday, the Kerala Home Department rescinded a letter that had been utilized by the BJP-led Thiruvananthapuram Corporation administration to grant BJP councillor R. Sugathan a six-month leave. The letter, issued on July 20 and signed by an under secretary acting on behalf of the Additional Chief Secretary, was sent to Sugathan in response to his request for escort parole to attend the council meeting on July 31.
Sugathan had already missed two council meetings and faced the possibility of disqualification if he missed a third. While the government denied his initial request, the letter provided alternative ways for him to avoid disqualification. It recommended that he submit a leave letter to the council through the Jail Superintendent, and if the council approved this request, his councillor position would remain secure.
Sugathan followed the procedures outlined in the letter to secure his leave, resulting in significant controversy and accusations from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) that the Congress-United Democratic Front (UDF) were deliberately working to prevent the disqualification of a BJP councillor.
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