Puratchith thalaivi Jayalalitha warns Chennai councilors.

Puratchith thalaivi Jayalalitha warns Chennai councilors.

ஜெயலலிதா அவர்களின் எச்சரிக்கை. சென்னை மாநகர கவுன்சிலர்கள் ஊழலுக்கு இடம் கொடுக்காமல் மக்கள் பணியாற்றவேண்டும்.

With complaints pouring in about corruption and inefficiency against Chennai’s councilors, chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday 19-6-2012 threatened to dissolve the civic council and run the corporation with the help of a special officer if the city’s representatives did not fall in line by July-end. Armed with a vigilance report about their performance and the allegations against them, Jayalalithaa pulled up the AIADMK councilors in a closed-door session.

An anxious Chennai mayor Saidai S Duraisamy and deputy mayor P Benjamin were among those who joined the nervous bunch of 169 councillors, who waited for nearly three hours for the CM at the Sir Pitti Thyagarayar Hall in T Nagar, fretting over what was in store. Jayalalithaa, who arrived at 2pm, addressed them for close to half-an hour, warning of action if there were any more complaints about their performance.

There have been several complaints against councilors for demanding bribes for road projects, maintenance of public toilets, water/sewerage connections and building plan approvals, apart from extorting money from traders. “The CM was furious about the complaints and said she did not mind holding corporation elections again in six months. In that case, she pointed out; it would only improve her government’s image and garner public support for her attempt to weed out the corrupt.

The CM apparently indicated that parliamentary elections were imminent and advised AIADMK councilors to mend their ways. Citing intelligence reports, she warned that the previous DMK regime had faced a drubbing in the corporation elections because of allegations of corruption.

The CM warned them that they would not be given the party ticket to contest in the next elections if they did not mend their ways.

Our councilors must rectify themselves and take an oath in not demanding bribe or commission from the public and take a vow to redress the people grievances with a sincere dutiful heart.