Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala govt to face no-confidence motion today, opposition seeks CM’s resignation

The Opposition has moved a no-confidence motion against the Kerala government in the assembly, alleging that the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government is involved in corruption.

The no-confidence motion, moved by MLA VD Satheesan, will be taken up on Monday as the Kerala Assembly convenes for a day amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala says Speaker shouldn’t chair the house as Opposition has moved a motion for his removal over his alleged links with gold smuggling accused. Speaker says notice should have been given 14 days ago as per rules & motion cannot be allowed. https://t.co/rWfNiSwa8d

The brief session will take up the opposition UDF’s notice for a no-confidence motion against the LDF government and the discussion on it is expected to last for five hours.

The opposition front decided to bring the no-confidence motion as part of its protest seeking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s resignation alleging that his office was linked to the recent case of gold smuggling through diplomatic channel.

While the opposition had sought at least two days for discussion on the no-confidence motion, the Speaker said only five hours would be allotted.

In the 140-member assembly, the CPI-M led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has 91 members, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) 45 and the BJP and Independent have one each. Two seats are vacant.

The session was initially planned to be held on July 27, but the government had deferred it, citing Covid-19 situation.

While the state budget was presented in February, the Finance Bill 2020-21 could not be passed as the state assembly had been adjourned sine die on March 13 in the backdrop of the coronavirus scare.

Being the first session after the outbreak of Covid-19, it will witness social distancing in seating and restrictions on visitors and officials besides antigen tests for the members as part of precautionary measures against the virus.

The Public and the Speaker’s galleries would be closed and all those entering the assembly complex would be subjected to thermal scanning also.

“In the gallery for officials, only necessary staff will be allowed. In the press gallery, the seating will be arranged maintaining social distance,” the release said.