In a bid to put an end to the controversy over his office space at the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation building, CPM’s Vattiyoorkavu MLA V K Prasanth on Wednesday announced that he is shifting his office to a new building at Maruthamkuzhy in the constituency.

The controversy arose after BJP councillor R Sreelekha, recently elected from the Sasthamangalam division in the local body elections, asked Prasanth to vacate the office, citing space constraints. Speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, Prasanth said the decision to relocate was taken to avoid further disputes and to ensure uninterrupted development work.
“Our priority is development, not controversy. With the office being shifted, there is no scope for further disputes,” he said.

Prasanth has been functioning from the Corporation building for the past seven years, since his first election to the Kerala Assembly in 2019. He won the Vattiyoorkavu bypoll following the election of sitting MLA K Muraleedharan to the Lok Sabha. He was re-elected from the constituency in 2021.

Explaining the move, Prasanth said discussions with various stakeholders led to a consensus that relocating the office would be appropriate under the present circumstances. “We decided to move to a more spacious and well-equipped office. The new premises at Maruthamkuzhy will help us serve people more effectively,” he said.

Highlighting the role of an MLA’s office as a key public interface, Prasanth noted that hundreds of people approach it daily seeking assistance. “A people’s representative must function from a space that facilitates public service and supports development-related activities,” he added.

He also said there had been no issues during the seven years his office operated from the Corporation building. “People who come to us do not approach with political affiliations. Even those who did not vote for me seek help, and it is my responsibility to address their concerns,” he said, adding that disputes arise when elected representatives forget that they represent all citizens, regardless of political differences.

Earlier, Prasanth had termed it inappropriate for a councillor to ask an MLA to vacate an office that had been accessible to the public for years, alleging political motives behind the demand. He had pointed out that the Corporation building houses the MLAs’ and councillors’ offices in separate sections, and that a BJP councillor had used the same councillor’s office for five years without objection. He had also maintained that his office had the right to function in the building until March 31, when the rental agreement expires.

Sreelekha had maintained that the building belongs to the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and that the civic body has full authority over its use. She also argued that while an MLA can set up an office anywhere within the constituency, a ward councillor has limited options for office space, which led to her request.