Kerala governor wants action against errant legislators

A day after the Kerala Assembly witnessed unprecedented vandalism and scuffles involving opposition and ruling legislators, Governor P Sathasivam recommended action against errant MLAs.

The governor said the unruly scenes “may even justify” submission of a report to the President under Article 356 of the Constitution. “The governor will be informing the happenings to the President also,” a statement released by Raj Bhavan said on Saturday.
The governor expressed deep concern about the “unfortunate” incidents which took place on the floor of the Assembly. Nine MLAs were injured in the House on Friday in scuffles over presentation of the state Budget by corruption scam-hit Finance Minister K M Mani. The minister managed to table the Budget after a six-minute introductory speech but only after opposition MLAs destroyed the computer and announcing system on Speaker N Sakthan’s dais and upturned his chair. “The Governor stressed on the necessity to take appropriate action against those responsible for unruly behaviour on the floor of the Assembly,” the statement said.
Sathasivam also called for passing of the Appropriation Bill for Supplementary Demands for Grants and Vote on Accounts on or before March 31. The Governor said that based on reports and a letter from the Speaker, “prima facie” trouble in the House was triggered by opposition protests.
Both the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the BJP had conveyed to the Governor that the Budget could not be termed constitutional because it was tabled without a formal clearance from the Speaker. The Governor, however, said the Speaker had confirmed – through a letter – that he had invited the minister to present the Budget “amidst the pandemonium”.

A decision on action against opposition MLAs who vandalised the Speaker’s dais and Congress MLAs M A Vaheed and K Sivadasan Nair for manhandling opposition woman MLAs is likely to be taken in the House on Monday.