The tragic death of a young man who swerved to avoid a pothole on MG Road, only to be fatally hit by a bus, triggered a dramatic and symbolic protest at the Thrissur Corporation Council meeting on Monday. Opposition councillors from the Congress arrived with red dye splattered on their clothes and bodies, accusing the civic administration of turning city roads into “zones stained with blood.”
Congress leader and Opposition head Rajan J Pallan demanded that road safety be prioritized above all other agenda items. The opposition disrupted proceedings, insisting that the worsening condition of city roads — which they say is endangering lives — be addressed urgently.
Tensions rose sharply when ruling party members accused Pallan of making a veiled death threat by allegedly suggesting a wreath be placed on the Mayor’s chair. The remark sparked outrage, and women councillors from the ruling front rushed to protect the Mayor amid loud slogans and accusations.
The situation escalated further when Congress councillor Jayaprakash Poovathingal climbed onto the council dais, leading the Mayor to suspend him for the remainder of the session. In solidarity, all opposition councillors mounted the dais, prompting the Mayor to impose a two-session suspension on 19 members of the opposition.
Adding to the upheaval, BJP councillors joined the protest, displaying placards and staging a separate demonstration within the council chamber — further amplifying the political turmoil over public safety failures.