The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : UDF alleges constitutional impasse

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UDF alleges constitutional impasse

Special Correspondent

Achuthanandan says no factual basis for Suresh Kumar’s statement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) members staged a walkout from the Assembly on Wednesday alleging a constitutional impasse on account of what they termed breakdown in the functioning of the Chief Minister’s office.

The Opposition, which sought adjournment of the proceedings to discuss the allegation that the Chief Minister’s office was being controlled by a ‘coterie’ and the counter-allegation that even files meant for the Cabinet were getting suppressed at the Chief Minister’s office, clashed with the treasury bench members during zero hour and once even moved into the well of the Assembly before leaving the House as a token of protest against the Chief Minister’s response to their motion.

The Opposition motion was based on the reported statement of K. Suresh Kumar, former Additional Secretary in the Chief Minister’s office, that crucial files relating to the SmartCity project and the Kiliroor sex scandal were suppressed by the Chief Minister’s private secretary S. Rajendran.

The bureaucrat’s statement, they pointed out, was the fallout of allegation reportedly made by Mr. Rajendran in the CPI(M) State committee that a ‘coterie’ was working at the Chief Minister’s office.

Rebutting the Opposition charge, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said there was no factual basis for Mr. Suresh Kumar’s statement. Mr. Suresh Kumar, he said, was never part of the Chief Minister’s staff. He was only Additional Secretary to the Secretary in the Chief Minister’s office.

Mr. Suresh Kumar had been asked to tender explanation for his statement.

The government would take appropriate action on receipt of his reply and there was no constitutional impasse as alleged by the Opposition, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani, who sought leave for the adjournment motion, said the ‘disclosures’ about the Chief Minister’s office were startling.

Claiming that there was a clear breach of Article 166(3) which governed the rules of business of the government, he demanded to know if the State needed such a Chief Minister.

Mr. Achuthanandan retorted that the constitutional scheme was actually sabotaged after the death of Sister Abhaya in 1992.

The Opposition was up and out in protest when he went on to make insinuations against Mr. Mani.

Intervening in the exchanges, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy demanded immediate withdrawal of the remarks.

The Chief Minister, however, stood his ground about breakdown of the constitutional scheme in connection with the Abhaya case, but withdrew his remarks.

Later, leading the Opposition members out of the House, Mr. Chandy said Mr. Achuthanandan’s explanation was unnecessarily provocative and unacceptable.

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