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The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) staged a walkout and boycotted the proceedings of the Kerala Legislative Assembly aft its announcement for an adjournment question connected the alleged Payyannur CPI(M) martyr money scam and the ensuing governmental unit was disallowed connected Tuesday (January 27, 2026).
Speaker A.N. Shamseer declined to admit the adjournment question nether Rule 50 aft ruling that the contented did not conscionable the urgency required to suspend the House proceedings for a elaborate discussion. This prompted protests from the Opposition members, who gathered successful the good of the House, holding placards and raising slogans.
Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, who addressed mediapersons later, was captious of the Speaker’s stance and alleged that the determination was taken “under authorities pressure” to debar treatment connected an contented that puts the CPI(M) connected the defensive.
The Congress person referred to the ‘revelations’ made by erstwhile CPI(M) Kannur territory committee subordinate V. Kunhikrishnan, who has since been expelled by the party. He had raised allegations of misuse of a martyr money and fiscal misappropriation successful the operation of the Payyannur country committee bureau against Payyannur MLA T.I. Madhusoodanan.
Following the disclosures, Congress workers, including women, had marched to the MLA’s bureau demanding his resignation a fewer days ago.
Mr. Satheesan said the protesters were brutally attacked by CPI(M) activists equipped with sticks, adjacent aft the constabulary redirected the march to debar clashes. He alleged that the attackers followed the protesters from down and assaulted them, starring to respective persons being hospitalised. He besides claimed that CPI(M) workers had assembled successful beforehand of the MLA’s bureau with weapons, and were prepared for violence.
‘Contradiction’ successful CPI(M)’s stance
Highlighting a “contradiction” successful the CPI(M)’s stance, helium recalled that the enactment had earlier “promised extortion for whistleblowers” during the Lok Sabha elections. “However, Kunhikrishnan, who exposed alleged corruption wrong the party, was subjected to disciplinary enactment wrong 24 hours. In contrast, elder CPI(M) leaders who person been jailed for sedate charges successful the Sabarimala golden theft lawsuit proceed to look nary enactment action,” helium said.
Citing the threats faced by Mr. Kunhikrishnan, Mr. Satheesan drew parallels with instances of governmental unit successful the past, including the execution of Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) person T.P. Chandrasekharan. “Those who exposure wrongdoings wrong the CPI(M) look threats to their lives,” helium alleged.
Earlier, the Assembly witnessed a semblance of normalcy aft the Opposition notably scaled down their protests implicit the Sabarimala golden theft row.
Soon aft the Question Hour began, Mr. Satheesan informed the Speaker that the UDF would proceed its protestation demanding the resignation of Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan successful transportation with the controversy. He besides alleged that the peculiar probe squad (SIT) probing the lawsuit “should not relation nether pressure” from the Chief Minister’s Office.
He besides announced that 2 UDF MLAs, C.R. Mahesh and Najeeb Kanthapuram, would statesman a satyagraha successful beforehand of the Assembly. He added that the Opposition would prosecute the protestation portion continuing to cooperate with the proceedings of the House.
Protest is against HC, says Pinarayi
Responding to the statement, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the agitation should not beryllium viewed arsenic a protestation against the government. He pointed retired that the SIT was functioning nether the supervision of the Kerala High Court and that each indispensable interventions and directions were being made by the court.
“The protest, though being held astatine the gates of the Legislative Assembly, is successful effect directed against the High Court,” the Chief Minister said.
