BJP in a tricky spot in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation as 20 councillors, including accused R Sugathan KAAPA, seek re-swearing

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The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram Corporation found itself in a sticky situation on Wednesday after the Kerala High Court ordered 20 councilors to take their oaths again within four weeks.

While Deputy Mayor GS Ashanath and Councilor R. Vinod took oath in the name of Bharath Matha in January, some councilors took oath in the name of “balidaanis” (martyrs in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh parlance). A few of them took the oath in the name of Sree Padmanabhaswamy while a few opted for ‘Attukal Amma’. Some chose to take the oath on behalf of their local deities, like Thiruvallam councilor Gopakumar who took the oath on behalf of Thiruvallam Parasuraman, Kamaleswaramu councilor V. Giri on behalf of Irumkulangara Durga Bhagavathi, Pangode councilor Vishnu Mohan on behalf of Udiyannoor Devi. Valiyasala councilor VS Soorya took oath in the name of ‘Kaavilamma’.

Among the 20 councilors is R. Sugathan, who was arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) and currently lodged in the maximum security correctional facility at Viyyur Central Jail in Thrissur. With more than 19 criminal cases, including several serious charges such as attempted murder, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to take his oath again in the next four weeks. Mr. Sugathan took the oath in the name of ‘Gurudevana’.

Both the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) are demanding his removal from the council.

LDF council president SP Deepak moved a petition against 20 BJP councilors demanding their disqualification.

Published – 24 Jun 2026 13:56 IST