Source : The Hindu Date : 18.06.2009

Corporators of WMC set precedent

Staff Reporter

WARANGAL: Setting a new precedent, the corporators of Warangal Municipal Corporation (WMC) unanimously passed a resolution surrendering the services of Municipal Commissioner Sivakoti Prasad to the State Government here on Wednesday.

Tough talk

For a long time, the Commissioner and Congress MLA B. Saraiah had locked horns for unknown reasons. On Wednesday, when the council met, Mr. Saraiah came down heavily on the Commissioner accusing him of working against him in the recent election.

“You launched a propaganda that I am going to lose the election. You intentionally took up developmental works in Hanamkonda but not in Warangal. You took excuse under the election code and stalled all the works in my constituency,” Mr. Saraiah alleged.

Though Mayor E. Swarna tried to come to the rescue of Mr. Sivakoti Prasad, those in the Congress party intervened. Corporator R. Bhaskar pointed out that the Mayor herself described the Commissioner as corrupt at one time and was now trying to shield him.

The TDP members suggested that if the corporators were not willing to work with the Commissioner, they should pass a resolution surrendering him to the State Government. Soon, the council passed unanimous resolution to this effect. All through the proceedings, Mr. Sivakoti Prasad remained silent and did not comment.

Surprisingly, deputy mayor E. Ravinder, who used to support the Mayor, suddenly switched sides and supported Mr. Saraiah.

The Mayor and Mr. Saraiah were not on good terms for a long time and as a result, the officials in the corporation were finding it difficult to function.