Thiruvananthapuram, April 24 — Kerala State Education Minister V. Sivankutty launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Thiruvananthapuram Corporation on Friday, accusing it of systemic governance failures across basic civic services. The minister cited mounting waste, broken streetlights, drinking water shortages, and the stray dog menace as evidence of administrative collapse under Mayor V.V. Rajesh. The confrontation marks a new escalation in the ongoing political battle between the CPI(M) and BJP over control of Kerala's capital city.

BJP's Historic Win Now Under Scrutiny

The BJP created political history in December 2025 by wresting control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation from the Left Democratic Front, ending over four decades of uninterrupted Left dominance in the city. The victory was celebrated as a landmark moment for the party's Kerala expansion strategy and was seen as a direct challenge to CPI(M)'s traditional stronghold in the state capital.

However, barely months into office, the BJP administration now faces a barrage of criticism from the opposition over its handling of day-to-day civic responsibilities. Sivankutty, himself a former Mayor of the same Corporation, said the current state of civic affairs was deeply distressing and questioned whether systems painstakingly built over the years had begun to deteriorate.

Sivankutty's Key Allegations Against the Corporation

The minister specifically flagged the faltering functioning of the Haritha Karma Sena, the grassroots waste management workforce, alleging that garbage collection had broken down in several localities. He said waste management is not a photo opportunity or a reel, in what appeared to be a dig at the BJP's perceived reliance on optics over delivery.

He also took strong exception to Mayor Rajesh's reported position that the Corporation bears no direct responsibility for drinking water supply, calling it absurd. Invoking provisions of the Kerala Municipality Act, Sivankutty argued that waste management, water supply planning, street lighting, and public health are statutory obligations that cannot be delegated or deflected onto agencies like the Kerala Water Authority.

He declared that if those in power cannot discharge even basic duties, their continuance in office is questionable, raising the political stakes of the confrontation significantly.

The 40-Day Blueprint Promise: Unfulfilled

One of the sharpest accusations levelled by Sivankutty was that the BJP leadership had reneged on its pre-election promise to unveil a comprehensive development blueprint for Thiruvananthapuram within 40 days of assuming office. This pledge had been a centrepiece of the party's campaign narrative in the December 2025 local body elections.

Critics argue that this broken promise is emblematic of a broader pattern — the gap between electoral rhetoric and on-ground governance delivery. The BJP's inability to produce the promised roadmap has given the CPI(M) a potent line of attack that resonates with ordinary residents frustrated by deteriorating civic services.

Vilappilsala Waste Plant Row Resurfaces

The minister also revisited the long-running and politically sensitive Vilappilsala waste management project, which has been mired in controversy for years. Sivankutty rejected allegations that he bore responsibility for the project's collapse, instead attributing its derailment to political decisions and protests orchestrated by rival parties.

The Vilappilsala issue exposes a structural challenge that transcends party lines. Thiruvananthapuram has struggled with a sustainable waste processing solution for well over a decade, and successive administrations including Left-led ones have failed to deliver a lasting fix. This context adds a layer of irony to Sivankutty's criticism, as the CPI(M) itself governed the Corporation for most of the period during which these civic systems were allegedly built and then allowed to erode.

Political Implications and What Comes Next

The intensifying war of words between Sivankutty and Mayor V.V. Rajesh has become a near-weekly feature of Thiruvananthapuram's political landscape, reflecting the high stakes both parties attach to control of the state capital. For the BJP, holding and performing well in the Corporation is critical to demonstrating its governance credentials ahead of future state elections. For the CPI(M), recapturing the Corporation is a matter of political prestige and strategic necessity.

Civic issues such as waste, water, stray dogs, and street lighting may seem mundane, but they are the daily lived experience of urban voters. If the BJP administration fails to deliver visible improvements in these areas, the political cost could be significant. With the Kerala state assembly elections looming on the horizon, the battle for Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is set to remain one of the most closely watched political contests in the state.