Sivankutty accuses UDF govt. in Kerala of scapegoating official to divert attention from Congress-BJP deal on councillor Sugathan
CPI(M) leader V. Sivankutty has accused the UDF government of scapegoating an official to hide a political deal with the BJP regarding a jailed councillor. The controversy involves allegations of vote trading and illegal administrative interventions.
Why it matters
Allegations of collusion between major political parties undermine public trust in administrative neutrality and electoral integrity.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader V. Sivankutty on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) accused the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala of scapegoating an under secretary to divert attention from its deal with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to secure six months of leave for BJP councillor R. Sugathan.
The Local Self-Government department had on Monday suspended Chithra P. Arunima, a Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) officer serving as an under secretary in the department, over a letter that was used by the BJP-led Thiruvananthapuram Corporation administration to secure the leave for Mr. Sugathan, who is currently lodged at the high-security correctional facility at Viyyur Central Prison in Thrissur.
Without the leave getting sanctioned, Mr. Sugathan, who was arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA), faced the prospect of disqualification as a councillor, having missed three consecutive council meetings.
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