The Municipal LDF members demanded that a new memorial should be built for Vayalar, who had an inseparable relationship with Aluva Aluva, and that the Lohitadas Smriti Mandapam should be maintained. The city council’s decision to rename the Lohitadas memorial to the Vayalar memorial is an insult to both of them. Thirteen years ago, the LDF governing body built an open-air stage as a Smriti Mandapam in the name of director Lohit Das at Manappuram. Yesterday, the Municipal Council decided to rename this open air stage as Vayalar Ramavarma Smritimandapam. LDF members protested against this. Vayalar was born in Vellarapilli Kovilakam on the banks of Periyar and lived in Aluva and wrote many songs describing Periyar and Aluva River. The LDF members want the Vayalar Smriti Mandapam to be constructed separately as a centenary memorial by the municipality celebrating the centenary. The Lohitadas Smriti Mandapam faces the house where Lohitadas lived. Although the construction was completed, it was not inaugurated. On the occasion of Shivratri, the Municipal Council’s art and cultural program Drishyotsavam is held in this Smriti Mandapam. CPI(M) Parliamentary Party Leader Sreelatha Vinodkumar and Leader of Opposition Giles Devasi Payyappilli alleged that the municipal authorities, who could not start any new projects as part of the centenary, are coming up with a scam in the name of changing their name to cover up their administrative failure. Read on deshabhimani.com