In a surprising turn of events, 13 councillors belonging to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the Tindivanam Municipality walked out of a municipal meeting held on 1 September 2023, expressing their deep dissatisfaction and embarrassment over their inability to address the basic needs of their Wards. The councillors announced their intention to resign from their positions, highlighting a lack of support and unresolved issues plaguing their responsibilities.
The meeting, convened under the leadership of City Council Head, Nirmala Ravichandran, took an unexpected turn as the DMK councillors began questioning Municipal Commissioner Tamizhchelvi about their inability to provide essential amenities to their constituents.
One councillor articulated their collective frustration, stating, “The City Council appears to be operating under external pressures, limiting our ability to fulfill our duties. We have lost confidence in the Council, and it has become increasingly challenging for us to carry out our responsibilities.”
During the meeting, one councillor emphasised that issues such as garbage collection, inadequate lighting, and water-related problems remained unresolved, leading to a sense of shame when facing their constituents.
“We have garnered significant respect from our constituents, which is why we were elected in the first place. However, the City Council’s inaction has left us feeling ashamed, ineffective, and distressed,” one councillor remarked.
Expressing their intention to meet with the Chief Minister and tender their resignations, the disillusioned councillors subsequently left the meeting.
Speaking to the press later, the councillors revealed that they had repeatedly raised these issues with the City Council through various channels but had received no satisfactory response or resolution. They noted that the Municipal Commissioner had been changed four times, and despite presenting their concerns during meetings, no concrete actions or follow-ups had occurred. The absence of permanent solutions and ineffective implementation of schemes further added to their discontent.
The councillors informed reporters that they had submitted their resignation letters to the Council and were prepared to meet with the Chief Minister, should he call for such a meeting.
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