V. Sivankutty was suspended from the Assembly for a day and four other Left Democratic Front MLAs warned for indiscipline on Tuesday for forcing their way to the Speaker’s dais and disrupting the proceedings by raising slogans.
The drama unfolded while Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala was replying to Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan’s submission for filing an FIR and registering a case against Finance Minister K.M. Mani who is facing bribery charges from bar owners. Mr. Achuthanandan accused the government of ignoring a letter he had given to Vigilance Director Vinson M. Paul demanding a probe against Mr. Mani and other Ministers involved in the bribery row. Mr. Chennithala instead ordered for a quick verification.
Mr. Achuthanandan said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Mr. Chennithala also tried to absolve Mr. Mani in advance, for destroying evidence and sabotaging the probe. Mr. Chennithala responded that the letter was based on news reports and did not have sufficient facts for initiating legal action. The quick verification was ordered by Mr. Paul. Deputy Leader of the Opposition Kodiyeri Balakrishnan also accused Mr. Chandy and Mr. Chennithala of clearing the charges levelled against Mr. Mani. Mr. Chennithala said the meeting only declared political solidarity with Mr. Mani. LDF members T.V. Rajesh, Babu M. Palissery, R. Rajesh, P. Sreeramakrishnan, James Mathew, A. Pradeep Kumar, Chittayama Gopakumar and G.S. Jayalal led by Mr. Sivankutty stepped onto the dais, surrounded Deputy Speaker N. Sakthan and started raising slogans through the mike. Mr. Sakthan then suspended the proceedings, at 11 a.m.
On resuming business at 12.22 p.m., Mr. Sakthan announced the decision to suspend Mr. Sivankutty and warn four others. Opposition members then moved to the well of the House and raised slogans in protest. The House was then adjourned for the day at 12.30 p.m.
