THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mayor Arya Rajendran landed in a new controversy on Saturday night over blocking a state transport corporation bus for not giving way to her private car. She was engaged in a fierce verbal exchange with the KSRTC bus driver on the road, following which police registered a case against the driver, Yadhu, for reckless driving and misbehaviour. The driver was arrested but released soon.
The altercation occurred at Palayam in the city around 9.45pm, after the bus driver allegedly did not allow the private vehicle carrying the mayor, her husband and Balussery MLA Sachin Dev and their relatives to overtake the bus.
According to the mayor, their car tried to overtake the bus at Plamoodu, but the driver refused to yield and showed some obscene gestures at her and her sister-in-law who were sitting in the rear seat. Infuriated by this, the mayor asked the car driver to overtake and block the bus at Palayam. A heated argument ensued in the middle of the road, disrupting traffic.
Arya told TOI that the bus was stopped only at Palayam traffic signal junction and the driver was questioned about his gestures and reckless driving. "Even though the driver was at fault, he was not ready to apologise. Later we went to the police station (Cantonment) with a complaint," she said.
Yadhu also filed a police complaint about the mayor's behaviour and disruption of the trip, but police have not yet registered a case. He alleged that the mayor's vehicle attempted to overtake the bus through the wrong side and the mayor's husband forced passengers to get down from the bus. He also claimed that he was not aware that Arya was the mayor and Sachin Dev an MLA.
‘Narrow escape for mayor’s vehicle’ According to police, the mayor’s vehicle had narrowly escaped a collision with the speeding bus. They have, however, decided to examine the CCTV footage. “A case has been registered. We will verify the CCTV footage and initiate further action,” an officer said. Meanwhile, a video of the incident went viral on Sunday, which showed the mayor and her relatives arguing with the driver. Arya is also seen in the footage demanding the bus conductor to delete the video. Arya was the youngest in India to take over as mayor in 2020 at the age of 21 years. She was earlier caught in a controversy over violation of protocol during former President Ramnath Kovind’s visit to the state.