Thiruvananthapuram, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : The controversy surrounding alleged forged signatures in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has intensified. BJP Mayor V.V. Rajesh has accused CPI(M) councilor S.P. Deepak of signature forgery and announced plans to file a police complaint on Friday. This exchange of accusations has transformed the issue into a political battle between the BJP-led corporation and the CPI(M)-led opposition.
Initially, the controversy centered on allegations against the mayor, but now the focus has shifted to the accuser. Both sides are fiercely defending their positions. Deepak had earlier accused Rajesh and councilor R. Sugathan of manipulating attendance records within the corporation. He claimed that forged signatures were used to falsely indicate Sugathan’s presence at council meetings held on February 26, March 11, and April 27, despite Sugathan being absconding under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) during that time.
Following these allegations, the Museum police registered a case, naming Rajesh as the first accused, Sugathan as the second, and the corporation’s secretary as the third. However, Rajesh has dismissed these claims, asserting that Sugathan attended all three meetings. He stated that the corporation’s official photographer had captured images of Sugathan at the meetings and that digital photos with timestamps have been submitted to the police.
Rajesh further noted that Deepak himself had shared a live video and photos on social media showing Sugathan at the April 27 meeting. He accused the CPI(M) councilor of failing to review his own social media posts before contacting the police.
In a twist, Rajesh has now accused Deepak of tampering with signatures on a letter submitted by LDF councilors to convene a special meeting of the corporation council. The mayor indicated that discrepancies in the signatures were evident and announced his intention to file a complaint with the Museum police regarding this matter.
This new allegation has opened another front in the ongoing signature dispute. The police will now need to investigate the claims of both sides related to fraud, as each accuses the other of misconduct.
This clash has become a significant political issue, especially since the BJP made history by gaining power in the corporation for the first time in December 2025, ending over four decades of CPI(M) rule.
As the council, already divided by bitter political rivalries, faces this new challenge, the key question remains: which signatures will be validated in the police investigation, and whose accusations will be proven false?
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