The 19 BJP councillors of the Tiruvananthapuram Corporation re-took their oath after the Kerala High Court, on June 24, invalidated the oath they had taken immediately after the April Local Self-Government elections, holding that it violated the prescribed rules. While directing the councillors to take a fresh oath within four weeks, the court’s verdict triggered a political row, with CPM leaders objecting to the BJP councillors having earlier taken the oath in the name of Bharat Mata.
The court observed that taking the oath in the name of Gods and martyrs is not legally valid. However, it rejected the plea seeking cancellation of their elections. The 20 BJP councillors had taken the oath in the name of Bharat Mata, Attukal Devi, Sree Narayana Gurudev and RSS martyrs.
The court verdict came on a petition filed by CPM councillor S.P. Deepak.
Reacting to the verdict, Mayor Adv. V.V. Rajesh stated that his party respects the court’s decision. He said the oath-taking would be carried out within the time frame prescribed by the court. According to him, the BJP is a party that always accepts and respects court verdicts. The date for the oath-taking would be finalised after discussions with the councillors. There is no question of filing an appeal, he said, adding that the BJP accepts the court verdict lock, stock and barrel.
In the name of God, democracy wins. The people's mandate prevails.
Today, 19 BJP/NDA councillors in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation retook their oath following the Hon'ble High Court's order.
The faithless CPM tried to use a technicality to cancel the election of… pic.twitter.com/UPxpEi8bjt
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) June 24, 2026
The Mayor said there were suspicions regarding the purpose of the petition, describing it as a selective move intended to please somebody. He claimed that there were other councillors who had taken the oath in the name of God and said this would be disclosed after checking the records. He also stated that the Deputy Mayor election would not be repeated. He described the verdict as a major setback for the petitioners.
He further said that the BJP would take all possible steps to secure the release of Councillor Sugatan from jail and claimed that there was widespread public support for it. (Sugatan was arrested on the night of June 9 at gunpoint. According to the BJP, it was a politically motivated arrest from his residence while he was with his wife and children. The police allegedly fired in the air during the operation.)
He pointed out that Deepak’s main complaint was against the rendering of the gangeet, “Paramapavitramaamee Mannil Bharatambaye Poojikkan”, by the BJP councillors after the oath-taking ceremony.
Although the Mayor had stated that the date for the oath-taking would be decided later, the ceremony took place within a few hours of the High Court verdict. The oath was administered by Mayor V.V. Rajesh in a special ceremony at the Corporation office. Deputy Mayor Asha Nath was among the councillors who took the oath. Opposition councillors did not attend the function.
The oath-taking ceremony, held immediately after the High Court verdict, was described by the BJP as a slap in the face of the opposition CPM. According to the BJP, the CPM’s move was another attempt to topple the BJP rule in the Tiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation.
The BJP further alleged that the CPM has been creating various hurdles in the functioning of the BJP-led Tiruvananthapuram Corporation. It claimed that CPM cadres were instructed to create an artificial water shortage at various locations by controlling supply lines in areas where they were active. The BJP also alleged obstruction of activities such as clearing clogged drainages, the arrest of elected councillors at gunpoint, and several other actions, claiming these incidents have raised serious questions regarding attempts to obstruct the functioning of the Tiruvananthapuram Corporation without any merit in the arguments put forward by the CPM.
