A one-day session of the Kerala Assembly will be held on Monday to pass the state’s finance bill. The members will also vote for a by-election to the Rajya Sabha. But the biggest point of interest will be a 6-hour debate on a no-confidence motion to be moved by the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in the wake of the gold smuggling scandal and other scams. With the Pinarayi Vijayan government enjoying the overwhelming majority, there is no threat to the ministry as such.
However, the debate will give the opposition an opportunity to attack the government at its weakest spots, such as the sensational gold smuggling case in which the Chief Minister’s office is increasingly coming under a cloud.
Compounding the worries of the government are the latest disclosures about the Rs 4.25 crore commission, or bribery as the opposition says, paid out of an Rs20 crore contribution by the UAE-based charity for the construction of houses under the state government’s prestigious project Life Mission. Questions from the ED and the Ministry of External Affairs if the state government had sought prior approval for the transaction have added more teeth to the opposition attack.
To make matters even more embarrassing, it has been revealed the award of Thiruvananthapuram airport to the Adanis had been facilitated by the fact the state industrial development corporation, the bidder on behalf of the state government for the airport deal, had hired a company with close association to the Adani group as a consultant for the bidding process.
The opposition has no dearth of issues to establish that the Pinarayi government has been an utter failure, apart from a series of scandals that have dogged the Left Democratic Front administration. There is also a side-drama building up over the future of the Jose K Mani faction of the Kerala Congress Mani group, which was part of the UDF until recently but was technically expelled from it over a controversial municipal chairmanship. The two factions of the Kerala Congress have served a whip to MLAs belonging to either camp, directing them to follow their respective stands in relation to the no-confidence motion as well as the voting for the Rajya Sabha seat, which has been caused by the death of a sitting member.
This will lead to a situation where the MLAs would be violating whichever way they act. Strict protocols are being followed for the members in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, including antigen tests to screen for infection. Seating for the members is being organised so as to maintain social distancing and other safeguards. A medical team would conduct the rapid antigen tests on the members early in the morning. In case anyone is found to be COVID-19 positive, arrangements have been made so the member can vote in the Rajya Sabha election.
