: The United Democratic Front (UDF) has convened a high-power committee meeting on March 4 to chart out its strategy for the Assembly session beginning March 6 with the customary Governor’s address.
The meeting assumes importance in the backdrop of the Opposition Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) move to organise massive agitations demanding Finance Minister K.M. Mani’s resignation.
The LDF has also promised to impose an embargo around the Assembly complex to prevent Mr. Mani from presenting the Budget for 2015-16 on March 13. The LDF meeting on March 5 will decide the new round of agitations, considering the fact that the CPI(M) and the CPI would want to energise their cadres at the end of their respective State conferences.
The UDF had already ruled out the question of Mr. Mani’s resignation. He would present the Budget. The UDF is determined to take on the LDF, a clear indication that the Assembly sittings are bound to be stormy.
Interestingly, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) youth outfit has also announced its moves to organise agitations demanding Mr. Mani’s resignation. Since both the UDF and the LDF are queasy about the attempts of the BJP to grow roots in Kerala’s electoral politics, UDF leaders are keenly watching the extent to which the LDF would stretch itself in its agitation against Mr. Mani.
There are several other issues that have been awaiting political clearance. These include the amendments to the Kerala Paddy and Wetland Conservation Act. Another major issue that has been awaiting a political discussion within the UDF is the stagnation in the construction sector.