The Kerala Assembly saw a heated debate on Tuesday as the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left opposition clashed over the increasing prices of essential goods. The confrontation led to a walkout by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is now the Leader of Opposition. The Opposition moved an adjournment motion blaming the government for the soaring prices, particularly due to the rise in fuel costs.
Former Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal questioned Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on whether he would implement the tax reduction demands he had made while in the opposition. Satheesan, in response, highlighted the financial challenges inherited from the previous Left government, citing a strain on the state’s finances. He mentioned a forthcoming White Paper on Kerala’s financial situation to shed light on the past decade’s economic management.
The Chief Minister also pointed out substantial dues left by the previous administration, affecting the government’s market intervention capabilities. This led to a sharp exchange with Vijayan, who criticized the government for not addressing the core issues and passing on the burden of inflation to the public. The CPI(M) leader blamed the Centre’s petroleum pricing policies for the inflation and announced the Left’s walkout in protest against the lack of detailed discussion on the matter.
The session briefly turned chaotic when BJP legislator Gopakumar was allowed to speak, leading to objections from the Left members. However, order was restored by the Speaker. The intense debate hinted at an aggressive Opposition stance in the Assembly and signaled the UDF government’s intent to scrutinize the financial performance of the previous administration closely in the upcoming sessions.
