Nineteen Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation retook their oath of office on Wednesday, 24 June, hours after the Kerala High Court struck down their earlier oath as legally invalid — an oath originally administered in the names of multiple deities and martyrs following the 2025 local body elections. The fresh ceremony sets the stage for another round of political and legal confrontation in the state capital.

The Re-Swearing Ceremony

Mayor V.V. Rajesh administered the oath to the 19 councillors — including Deputy Mayor Asha Nath — at a special function held at the Corporation office in Thiruvananthapuram. The Opposition stayed away from the proceedings entirely, signalling the depth of the political divide over the issue.

Notably, the original High Court order had invalidated the oaths of 20 BJP councillors. The court had directed all of them to retake the oath in accordance with the Kerala Municipality Act within four weeks, and ruled that they could not exercise the powers of elected members until they did so.

What the High Court Ruled

Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan had clarified in the landmark judgment that elected representatives may take the oath either in the name of God or by making a solemn affirmation — but strictly within the statutory format. The court held that the Kerala Municipality Act does not permit an expanded interpretation of the term 'God', and therefore oaths administered in the names of multiple deities could not be treated as legally valid.

The judgment also drew national attention for an unusual citation: the court referenced a popular Malayalam film song penned by lyricist M.D. Rajendran to illustrate the philosophical point that, despite different forms of worship, the divine is ultimately one — while simultaneously holding that this very universality meant the statutory format could not be altered to list individual deities by name.

Separately, the court invalidated the oath of BJP councillor Sugathan, who is currently in judicial custody in a KAAPA (Kerala Anti-social Activities Prevention Act) case.

LDF Disputes Compliance, Files Complaint

The controversy did not conclude with Wednesday's ceremony. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) lodged a formal complaint with the Principal Secretary of the Local Self Government Department, alleging that the fresh oath-taking failed to fully comply with the conditions laid down by the High Court and seeking official scrutiny of the proceedings.

The BJP, for its part, has insisted that it has satisfied the court's directions. With both sides staking out opposing positions, the dispute now appears headed for further legal examination — and potentially another High Court hearing.

What Comes Next

The LDF's complaint to the state government opens the possibility of administrative action, while the BJP's assertion of compliance could trigger a fresh judicial round if the LDF approaches the court. The outcome will determine whether the 19 councillors can formally exercise their elected powers or face continued legal uncertainty in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.