Uproar in Kerala Assembly over 'unstarred' questions; session suspended amid protest

Thiruvananthapuram: The ongoing Kerala Assembly session witnessed an intense debate between Opposition leaders and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. 

During the session on Monday, both the Speaker and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticized Opposition leader VD Satheesan. Vijayan termed Satheesan as one of the most immature and substandard Opposition Leaders in the history of the Kerala Assembly. As the protest intensified, the house adjourned for the day. 

Although the 12th session of the 15th Assembly began on October 4, the House had adjourned on the first day after paying homage to the victims of the Wayanad landslide tragedy.

Satheesan had alleged that the Speaker downgraded 49 priority questions submitted by them. If the questions are downgraded from "starred" to "unstarred" status, the Opposition legislators will not receive direct replies for questions raised during the session. 

The Speaker, however, justified the changes made by the Assembly Secretariat and claimed that there was nothing "unusual" in the action.

He also said no "discrimination" has been shown towards the opposition.

Unsatisfied with his reply, the UDF members trooped into the well of the House with placards and a banner and started raising slogans against the government and the speaker.

While CM Pinarayi Vijayan was responding during the question hour, the Speaker intervened again as the UDF protest intensified.

Later, the Speaker agreed to give Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan microphone if the protesting members were ready to return to their seats.

Heeding to his request, all the other opposition members except Mathew Kuzhalnadan (Congress) went back to their seats.

With Kuzhalnadan continuing his protest in front of podium, Speaker Shamseer asked "who is the Leader of Opposition here?" This triggered sharp reactions from Congress leader Satheesan.

"There is an impropriety in your (Speaker) question. This shows your immaturity," the LoP alleged and accused him of joining hands with the ruling benches and taking stands against the opposition.

He also announced that the opposition is boycotting the question hour.

Later, CM Vijayan and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M B Rajesh strongly criticised the remarks made by the opposition leader against the Speaker.

While Vijayan termed the comments as 'unprecedented' in the history of the House, the Speaker described the turn of events as unfortunate".

The Speaker also said that the controversial remarks made by the LoP would not be included in the Assembly records.

Following this, Congress MLA A P Anilkumar submitted a letter to the speaker, requesting that the statements made by the CM and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister against Satheesan also be expunged from the House records

The assembly session is scheduled to continue for seven days, addressing various issues including the Chief Minister's remarks, PR controversy, alleged nexus between the CPM and BJP, Thrissur Pooram row and discussions regarding Ajith Kumar's interactions with RSS leaders.