Sivakasi council meeting disrupts, police called in

An emergency council meeting in Sivakasi Corporation became chaotic on Tuesday, requiring police intervention. The meeting was called by Mayor I. Sangeetha to address 98 agenda items. This followed a previous meeting on March 11 that ended abruptly when many councillors raised objections to approving several residential plots in the city. Tensions escalated at the start of the meeting when BJP councillor Kumari Baskar held up a placard criticizing the Mayor for allegedly disrespecting the national anthem. A confrontation occurred when Congress councillor A.P. Ravi Shankar tried to take the placard away, leading to a verbal dispute that necessitated police involvement. The situation worsened when a DMK woman councillor addressed the Mayor, and another male councillor attempted to speak on her behalf. This triggered further chaos, with a desk being pushed over. Commissioner P. Krishnamoorthy stepped in to calm the councillors. During the meeting, councillors continued discussing the approval of the five residential layouts. The Commissioner explained that necessary infrastructure such as roads and street lights had been completed before the Corporation sought ratification. Ultimately, the councillors passed the resolutions unanimously. However, police had to step in once more outside the council hall, where a heated argument erupted between Congress and BJP councillors.