The Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) will hold a ‘protest-cum-resistance’ march to the legislature complex on March 13, the day on which Finance Minister K.M. Mani is to present the 2015-16 budget.
Briefing reporters after a meeting of the LDF State committee here on Friday, front convener Vaikom Viswan said the LDF was firm in its decision that Mr. Mani should not present the budget and would chalk out its plan of action for March 13 in the coming few days. The LDF panel had formed a mechanism for consultations among the alliance partners for this, he said.
He would not go into the details of the LDF’s plans and refused to say whether the march planned for March 13 would turn out to be a siege. Around 25,000 LDF activists would take part in the march. The day would also see LDF workers laying siege to one government office in each Assembly constituency. Front activists would hold demonstrations across the State on March 12 over the issue, he added.
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Later in the evening, an LDF delegation led by Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan called on Governor P. Sathasivam with the plea that he summon Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and ask him to ensure that Mr. Mani did not present the budget. The Governor, Mr. Achuthanandan told the waiting reporters, had assured them that he would consider their demand.
Mr. Achuthanandan had, after the Opposition boycott of the Governor’s in the Assembly, told reporters that the boycott marked the Opposition’s fight against the corrupt, including Mr. Mani and other Ministers. Joining him, CPI Legislature Party leader C. Divakaran said that the Opposition would continue its protest till March 13 within and outside the Assembly.