Political Upheaval in Krishnagiri Municipality
In a significant political development, the Krishnagiri municipal council on Monday passed a no-confidence motion against municipal chairwoman Faridha Nawab of the DMK party, marking a dramatic turn in local governance.
The motion received overwhelming support from 27 councillors in the 33-member municipal body, demonstrating substantial opposition to the chairwoman's leadership within her own party ranks.
Political Composition and Background
The Krishnagiri municipality comprises 33 wards represented by diverse political affiliations. The council includes 22 DMK councillors, five AIADMK councillors, one Congress councillor, one BJP councillor and four DMK-supported independents.
The political crisis began on October 16 when a total of 23 DMK and DMK-supported independent councillors submitted formal complaints to municipal commissioner Sathish Kumar. They alleged that Chairwoman Faridha Nawab's actions were against the interests of the municipality and the government.
Following these complaints, Commissioner Sathish Kumar announced that a vote on the no-confidence motion would be conducted on November 10, setting the stage for Monday's dramatic proceedings.
Dramatic Events on Voting Day
The voting day witnessed extraordinary scenes of political drama and confrontation. In an apparent attempt to avoid peace talks, twenty DMK councillors travelled to Ooty prior to the crucial vote.
At 10 am on Monday, 21 of the 22 DMK councillors (excluding the chairwoman), four DMK-supported independents, one Congress councillor and AIADMK councillor Nagajyothi were transported to the municipal office in an omnibus.
The situation escalated when AIADMK members led by party Krishnagiri town secretary Kesavan laid siege to the municipality building, accusing the DMK of kidnapping their party councillor. The protest turned violent as demonstrators broke a side windshield of the omnibus.
Councillor Matheen suffered injuries during the incident, while DMK councillor Ayesha fainted and required medical treatment, highlighting the tense atmosphere surrounding the vote.
Political Standoff and Resolution
AIADMK MLA Ashok Kumar intervened in the situation, demanding that the party's councillor be allowed to leave. He declared that if councillor Nagajyothi confirmed she was attending the meeting voluntarily, the party members would disperse.
The councillor subsequently stated that she was acting of her own free will and confirmed that no one had kidnapped her. Commissioner Sathish Kumar reinforced this position, stating he had asked for her opinion before sending her inside the building.
Despite these clarifications, the protest led by Ashok Kumar MLA continued for another 20 minutes, reflecting the deep political tensions surrounding the no-confidence motion.
Voting Process and Outcome
With the municipal office doors closed for security, Commissioner Sathish Kumar presided over the vote at 11 am, supervised by Salem zonal commissioner for municipal administration Ashok Kumar.
After a two-hour debate among councillors, the voting proceeded. Commissioner Sathish Kumar personally counted the votes and announced that 27 councillors had supported the no-confidence motion against Chairwoman Faridha Nawab.
The resolution will now be sent to the government, which will formally announce the date for the election of a new chairperson, marking a new chapter in Krishnagiri's municipal governance.
This political upheaval represents one of the most significant developments in recent Tamil Nadu local body politics and could have far-reaching implications for the DMK's organizational structure in the Krishnagiri region.
