The five United Democratic Front (UDF) legislators, who continued their sit-in on the Assembly premises for the second day on Tuesday demanding Health Minister K.K. Shylaja’s resignation for “messing up” the admission and fee structure in private self-financing medical colleges and other related issues, got a leg-up when Kerala Congress(M) leader K.M. Mani also arrived on the spot to express his solidarity to their cause.
The tussle inside the House between the ruling and Opposition benches over the issue of Ms. Shylaja replying to a notice seeking leave for an adjournment motion to discuss her lapses, and the government’s refusal to budge, reflected outside on the steps where the UDF legislators were on agitation. Mr. Mani came along with his colleagues P.J. Joseph, C.F. Thomas, Roshy Augustine, and Mons Joseph.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president M.M. Hassan and former KPCC chief V.M. Sudheeran were also present. LDF too made its presence felt, with Industries Minister A.C. Moideen, Cooperation Minister Kadakampally Surendran, and Labour Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan, arriving at the spot, enquiring after the health of the young legislators.
High Court observation
T.P. Sajeendran, Roji M. John, Eldhos Kunnappilly, T.V. Ibrahim, and N. Shamshudeen launched their indefinite sit-in on Monday, demanding the Health Minister’s resignation over the botching up of medical admission and the High Court’s adverse remarks on the Child Rights Commission’s selection.
By evening, another adverse High Court observation energised the UDF leadership to harden its stand and this would find its echo in the Assembly on Wednesday.
