High drama unfolded in front of the Koothattukulam municipal office after a CPI(M) councillor Kala Raju who had of late switched her loyalty to the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in the municipality following a fallout with the party leadership was forcibly taken away in a car on Saturday (January 18, 2025) around 10 a.m.

The incident took place just before the voting on a no-confidence motion moved by the UDF against CPI(M)’s municipal chairperson Vijaya Sivan in which Ms. Raju was reportedly set to vote in favour of the motion. In that case, the motion would have passed along with the backing of the 11 UDF councillors and an independent councillor reducing the ruling LDF to a minority in the 25-member house. The opposition boycotted the vote on the no-confidence motion following the turn of incidents while writing to the returning officer that a free and fair voting was not possible.

The UDF alleged that Ms. Raju was ‘abducted’ by the CPI (M) goons fearing lose of power in the municipality. “She was assaulted and forcibly taken away in the chairperson’s official car driven by another driver when she was about to get down from a car along with our women councillors. Our councillor Lissy Jose was also assaulted and ended up with a dislocated shoulder,” said Boban Varghese, a Congress councillor who had interfered and tried to stop Ms. Raju from being taken away. Ms. Siva got herself admitted in the hospital and was not available for comment.

Ms. Raju’s children had since then petitioned the Chief Minister and the State Police Chief besides lodging a petition with the Koothattukulam police station that their mother was missing. Shortly thereafter, the Congress led by District Congress Committee President Mohammed Shiyas laid siege to the police station accusing the police of being mute spectators to the whole episode and doing the bidding of CPI(M). Heated exchanges also took place between Congress leaders, including Youth Congress State Vice President Abin Varkey, and the police with the protestors exhibiting the video footage of the alleged abduction.

“The High Court had directed the police to extent protection to the opposition councillors in connection with the voting but instead the police led by Muvattupuzha DySP helped to take Ms. Raju away. The police are giving full protection to the CPI(M) goons,” Mr. Shiyas said.

He said that the opposition will boycott the voting on the no-confidence motion against the vice-chairperson as well unless Ms. Raju was tracked down in time enabling her to cast vote.