Kerala CM to go slow on police case against 7 Oppn MLAs for Assembly fiasco: Sources

Thiruvananthapuram, March 22

With the Congress-led opposition in a combative mood which led to guillotining of the ongoing Assembly session, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is now having second thoughts about going forward with the case against seven opposition MLAs for the fiasco at the Speaker's office last week, say sources close to the government.

Of the seven opposition legislators named, two are women and the FIR includes charges which can fetch imprisonment for a decade.

Though the present session was to conclude on March 30, Vijayan, who came under tremendous duress from the opposition right from the start of the session on January 23, on Tuesday presented a motion to guillotine the session and was passed.

Following the incident at the Speaker's office, the opposition has been up in arms against the government as the cases against them, included non-bailable charges. Crying fowl, the Legislators claimed that they were roughed up by the watch and ward staff and treasury bench who have been charged under all bailable offences.

Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan said that they were ready to cooperate for the smooth conduct of the House, but then the "false cases" registered against the Opposition MLAs should be withdrawn and the "autocratic" style of Vijayan stopped. The rights of the opposition to move adjournment motions also should be restored, he added.

According to sources, another reason for Vijayan going slow is the Congress-led UDF's announcement of intensifying their protest against the CM, outside the Assembly.

The UDF has decided to step up their protests by staging a massive sit-in protest before the State Secretariat in the second week of May, which coincides with the second anniversary of the current Vijayan government.