Assembly Session Clash: Pinarayi Vijayan and V.D. Satheesan Lock Horns Over Schedule

Thiruvananthapuram: An Assembly Session Clash during an Advisory Committee meeting where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and opposition leader V.D. Satheesan engaged in a heated argument regarding the scheduling of the assembly session. Despite a decision to abbreviate the session, Satheesan adamantly pushed to postpone the meeting dates due to the upcoming KPCC-led campaign rally ‘Samaragni‘ on February 9. Satheesan advocated for the standard practice of rescheduling assembly sessions during significant political events, accusing the government of non-cooperation.

Key Points:

• 1ensions Over Assembly Session Scheduling: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and opposition leader V.D. Satheesan clashed over the assembly session’s scheduling, particularly in the context of the KPCC-led campaign rally ‘Samaragni’ scheduled for February 9.
• Demand for postponement: Satheesan insisted on postponing the assembly session, citing the common practice during significant political events. He accused the government of non-cooperation, emphasizing the importance of accommodating major political activities.
• Advisory Committee Decision: Despite the opposition’s plea, the advisory committee decided to conclude the conference by February 15, shortening the initial schedule, which extended until March 20. The decision was made based on a majority consensus.

During the exchange, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan responded with a quip, stating, ‘You are also a good co-operator; there’s no need for Ammatiri news.’ Opposition leaders countered, asserting that such talks would not be effective. This led opposition members to exit the advisory committee meeting. Although the chief minister expressed displeasure, no further response was elicited.

The advisory committee’s majority decision to conclude the conference by February 15 was driven by the anticipation of possible Lok Sabha elections. The budget presentation is set for February 5, with budget discussions scheduled from February 12 to 15. Despite opposition pleas to shift the meeting due to the ‘Samaragni’ campaign from February 9, the demand was not accommodated, sparking frustration from V.D. Satheesan. The Chief Minister’s message was clear – a unilateral decision-making approach, asserting: ‘You are also a good corporation.’

Assembly Session Clash highlights the challenges of coordinating political activities and official sessions, raising questions about the balance of power and cooperation in Kerala’s political landscape.