Karimnagar: Mayor Cuts Short Foreign Trip Amid Controversy
Karimnagar Mayor Yadagiri Sunil Rao has returned early from his planned month-long trip to the United States. He cut his trip short after a controversy arose regarding his departure.
Mayor Sunil Rao left for the US on August 23. However, the trip became a topic of discussion after the District Collector issued a notice, stating that the Mayor had left without informing the government. According to the law, it is mandatory to notify the government when a municipal official plans to be away for an extended period.
The Collector expressed displeasure that the Mayor did not assign an in-charge before leaving. After receiving complaints, the Collector sent a notice to the Mayor via WhatsApp. In response, Mayor Sunil Rao explained that he would return to Karimnagar by September 6. He even attached his return ticket as proof.
These developments mean that Deputy Mayor Challa Swarooparani will not be taking over as the acting Mayor of Karimnagar Municipal Corporation. The Mayor’s behavior has angered some BC (Backward Class) unions, who are upset that he did not inform the party leadership, local MLA Gangula Kamalakar, or Deputy Mayor Challa Swaruparani before his trip.
According to municipal law, if the Mayor is away from the city for 14 days, the Deputy Mayor must be given in-charge duties. Congress corporator Mendi Srilata, along with other corporators, lodged complaints with the Collector, municipal officials in Hyderabad, and Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, citing this law. They argued that with the Mayor away during a period of seasonal diseases and festivals, it was critical to have someone in charge.
The Collector responded to Deputy Mayor Challa Swarooparani, explaining that since Mayor Sunil Rao would return within the required time, the municipal law would not be violated. However, the Collector clarified that if the Mayor is not back by September 6, further action would be taken as per Municipal Act 34(2).
Deputy Mayor Challa Swarooparani, who had been hopeful of becoming the first BC woman to serve as Mayor in the corporation’s history, will now have to wait. The Mayor’s revised return schedule means she won’t be taking over the mayoral duties, as was initially anticipated.
