The Kerala Assembly faced turmoil as Speaker A.N. Shamseer refused to allow a discussion on the alleged lenient granting of parole to convicted criminals associated with CPI(M). This decision led to protests by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), resulting in a boycott of the day’s proceedings under the leadership of V.D. Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition. The adjournment motion, proposed by K.K. Rema, MLA and widow of slain CPI(M) rebel leader T.P. Chandrasekharan, aimed to address the government’s selective use of parole provisions, especially in cases involving ruling party affiliates.
Intervening in the matter, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.B. Rajesh mentioned that there was no urgency necessitating an adjournment motion and suggested raising the issue as a submission instead. Despite the opposition’s objections, the Speaker dismissed the notice, deeming it unfit for an adjournment discussion. This decision sparked uproar among opposition members, who accused the government of protecting criminals, leading to a walkout by UDF legislators in protest.
Outside the Assembly, K.K. Rema highlighted that the convicts in the T.P. Chandrasekharan murder case had collectively utilized over 1,000 days of parole, criticizing the repeated leniency shown. She expressed concern that such actions undermined justice and inflicted further pain on the victim’s family. Meanwhile, Satheesan criticized the Pinarayi Vijayan government for its generous parole grants to Chandrasekharan’s killers, alleging a reluctance to curb the practice due to fear, a claim refuted by the ruling front.
