Kerala: 4 Opposition MLAs Censured Over Protest On Speaker's Dais In Assembly

The UDF MLAs including Mathew Kuzhalnadan, IC Balakrishnan, Anwar Sadath and Sajeev Joseph were reprimanded over the protest.

On Monday, Kerala Assembly session was adjourned following a heated exchange between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition (LoP) V.D. Satheesan.

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The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution censuring four Opposition legislators for "disorderly conduct" that allegedly tarnished the dignity of the House and violated the Speaker's special privileges on Tuesday. This came in response to the events of Monday's Zero Hour following which Kerala government moved a condemnation motion against the opposition's disruptive actions.

The UDF MLAs including Mathew Kuzhalnadan, IC Balakrishnan, Anwar Sadath and Sajeev Joseph were reprimanded over the protest. The action was initiated after a motion presented by Minister MB Rajesh against the protest in the Assembly, as reported by Mathrubhumi. 

The Kerala government moves a condemnation motion in the state Assembly against the opposition's actions.

In response to the opposition's actions during yesterday's Zero Hour, the Kerala government introduced a motion in the Assembly.

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2024

The Assembly session on Monday had been adjourned following a heated exchange between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition (LoP) V.D. Satheesan. The confrontation escalated after opposition members, in protest, climbed the podium of Speaker A.N. Shamseer and obstructed the proceedings by holding a black banner that obscured the Speaker’s face, as per a report on PTI.

Tensions flared after Satheesan announced a boycott of the question hour, protesting the conversion of 49 starred questions into non-starred ones. Watch and Ward personnel had to intervene, forcibly removing Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan from the Speaker’s dais as the protest intensified.

Chief Minister Vijayan, visibly angered by the opposition’s actions, condemned the disruption, declaring that blocking the Speaker's sight with banners could not be tolerated in the Assembly. The slogans on the banner, which linked Vijayan to the RSS, further fueled the confrontation.

Vijayan also took a jab at Satheesan, recalling the latter's past participation in a Bharateeya Vichara Kendram event, subtly accusing him of hypocrisy by referencing his proximity to RSS ideologue Golwalkar's image during that event.