Kerala CM skips debate on 'ADGP-RSS link' in Assembly citing fever, shoulder pain

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan did not participate in the discussion on an adjournment motion put forward by the Opposition, which called for a debate on the alleged ADGP-RSS connection. Speaker A N Shamseer announced that the Chief Minister was suffering from shoulder pain and fever, and doctors had advised him to rest completely. The Chief Minister, however, had initially approved the adjournment motion for discussion at the beginning of the Assembly session, allowing a two-hour window from 12 pm. He had requested the Opposition not to replicate the previous day's situation.

At 12 pm, just as the discussion was about to commence, the Speaker informed the Assembly that the Chief Minister would be absent. His absence sparked a stir when Opposition MLA N Shamsudheen raised the matter, resulting in a heated exchange between him and the Speaker. The Opposition contended that the Chief Minister's sudden illness was coincidental.

In response to Shamsudheen’s suggestion that the Chief Minister's sudden ailment could be coincidental, the Speaker retorted sharply that anyone could fall ill, implying that such issues were not appropriate for discussion in the Assembly.

Shamsudheen sarcastically pointed out that the Chief Minister had indeed fallen ill that day, prompting the Speaker to escalate his response. Following that members of the ruling party created a disturbance in the Assembly, leading to an intervention from the Speaker. Shamsudheen clarified that he was not mocking the Chief Minister, but merely pointing out at the Chief Minister's absence during such an important discussion.

On the second day of the Assembly session, tensions flared once again between the Opposition and the ruling party. The conflict intensified when Parliamentary Minister M B Rajesh addressed the Assembly regarding the Opposition members. He labelled the protest against the Speaker the previous day as a serious violation of discipline. The Opposition leader expressed agitation over the reprimand issued to four Opposition members..

The four MLAs were reprimanded for not adhering to the decorum and rules of the Assembly. The resolution for action against Mathew Kuzhalnadan, I C Balakrishnan, Anvar Sadath and Sajeev Joseph was introduced in the Assembly by Minister Rajesh.

The Chief Minister had stated that the Opposition's actions, which disrespected the Speaker, could not be tolerated. Meanwhile, the Opposition leader condemned the Speaker’s unilateral decision to suspend the Assembly without even calling the protesting members for discussion.