K M Dayashankar
Differences crop up in BRS as Deputy Mayor lodges complaint with Collector Pamela Satpathy
Following the Collector’s notice, the Mayor reduced his trip to 14 days
First tickets were booked for to and fro on June 25 for US visit from August 23 to September 24
Again return tickets were booked by reducing the trip till September 6 on August 25
KARIMNAGAR, AUGUST 27, 2024: Infighting in the Bharath Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has come to the fore with Karimnagar Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Challa Swaroopa Rani Harishankar lodging a complaint against Mayor Y Sunil Rao with Collector Pamela Satpathy over his sudden foreign jaunt.
Swaroopa Rani alleged that the Mayor had left for USA on August 23 night without informing anyone in the MCK or handing over the charge to the Deputy Mayor. If the Municipal Mayor goes to any foreign country or unavailable for the people for more than 15 days, then he should hand over the charge to his deputy, she reminded.
Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday, she alleged that the Mayor was on foreign jaunt for 33 days (September 24) and not 15 days as per the flight tickets. As per the flight tickets and municipal act, she urged the Collector to hand over incharge Mayor post to her. When the Collector served notice to the Mayor, he informed the Collector that he was returning to the country on September 6 through Whatsapp message and sent flight tickets, which booked on August 25.
The Deputy Mayor found fault with the Mayor for suddenly reducing the 33 days trip to 15 days and returning back to the country following the notice served by the Collector. What is wrong if the charge is handed over to deputy Mayor, she asked and alleged the hurried return of the Mayor shows that there were large-scale irregularities in the MCK during the last four and half years.
Stating that the Mayor had purchased flight tickets to USA on June 25 for 33 days trip, she asked why the tickets were purchased two months in advance when the Mayor was planning only for 14 days US visit. She charged that the Mayor had cancelled the flight tickets on August 25 following their complaint with Collector and issuance of notice. This shows that the Mayor does not want a woman and BC leader attain the post, she said and added that the people of Karimnagar town were watching the developments and undemocratic attitude of Mayor. She urged the party high command to take action against the Mayor for indiscipline and not handing over charge to the Deputy Mayor, who belongs to the same BRS party.
On the other hand, the Collector stated in the notice that “Therefore, if any delay in arriving, further action will be taken as per section 34 (2) of the Telangana Municipal Act, 2019”. Another municipal Corporator Mendi Srilatha Chandrashekhar from 44th municipal division complained that the Mayor had gone to US without government permission.
