Stormy session of Assembly ahead

Thiruvananthapuram: A stormy session of the Kerala Assembly is in air as the House begins sittings of 11 days on Monday.

The Opposition, which may want to kick start its campaign for the coming Assembly elections, is not going to spare any effort to put the government in the dock.  In the melee, some of the important legislations that the government is proposing are unlikely to get the attention they deserve.

The ruling Front will find itself in the defensive on account of a number of factors from the bar-bribery case to the drubbing it received in the recent elections to the local self governments. The Opposition is sure to launch a concerted attack against Excise Minister K. Babu over the allegations of taking bribes for reducing bar license fee. Fresh developments during the coming fortnight, including progress of cases before courts, could weaken his position further.

The Congress has managed to ease out Finance Minister K. M. Mani over similar allegations and his party (Kerala Congress-M) is alleging double standards by the government when it comes to Congress ministers. The Opposition is demanding that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who first tried to save Mr. Mani and then Mr. Babu, should himself resign. Their voice will be more strident during the session.

The election defeat has been most embarrassing for the Congress which had to content with rebellion within the party and flak from United Democratic Front constituents for undermining their prospects. Minor constituents such as the Janata Dal (United) and Revolutionary Socialist Party faced alarming erosion of their votes. There is already an open invitation to JD (U) from the Opposition to join the Opposition Front. However, the Left parties may be less keen to have the RSP back on their fold as the civic election had shown that they could shore up support without RSP. They could even gradually displace RSP in Kollam district which is the party’s only stronghold. The Assembly may see interesting exchanges over the Opposition trying to poach on ruling Front constituents. Outside the Assembly, the BJP, which has never won a seat in the House, is wooing Kerala Congress (M). What will be interesting to watch is how much effort the constituents of the ruling Front will now take to defend the government.

With the elections six months away, it is imperative for Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his colleagues to project the programmes and policies of government. However, it is doubtful that they would get the opportunity do much on this front during the short session.

Many issues and irritants are plaguing the government ranging from encroachments to conduct of officials. On the other hand, the Opposition is coming to the Assembly with increased unity. However, the ruling Front can still taunt it over who would be leading them in the coming Assembly elections as the question about who would be its Chief Minister candidate remains unsettled.

Bills to regulate harthals and Malayalam Language Bill are two important legislations to be considered by the House. The proposed Bill to classify and regulate prices of hotel food is unlikely to be introduced in the view of protests from hoteliers.