City Council chairwoman Barbara Marshall yesterday removed two members of the council's transportation committee who had been maneuvering to oust her.

Marshall took Donovan Dela Cruz and Ann Kobayashi off the five-member panel and replaced them with Todd Apo and Rod Tam.

At a press conference called by Dela Cruz and Kobayashi, they and Councilman Charles Djou suggested Mayor Mufi Hannemann had orchestrated the shuffle to strengthen his plan for a mass transit system and avoid scrutiny.

"It's the independents versus the rubber stamps," Dela Cruz said.

But Marshall — who has long opposed the transit system and questioned many of Hannemann's plans and policies — said it was "absolutely not true" that the mayor was behind her move. Hannemann's spokesman also denied any such involvement.

Marshall said she believed the change was in the best interest of the city and the council. She said she had not removed Dela Cruz and Kobayashi in retaliation for their attempt to organize a bloc of five members to topple her and otherwise reorganize the council.

But Marshall said she had grown weary of coup plotting and power struggles that have percolated since the council chose her to replace Dela Cruz as chair in January.

Council transportation chairman Nestor Garcia, whose support could be important to keeping or changing the council's structure, was unavailable yesterday.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.