Kerala Oppn plans no trust motion

Congress-led UDF in Kerala is likely to move no trust motion against the CPM-led Left Democratic Front government on August 24 in connection with the gold smuggling case involving Chief Minister’s former principal secretary and the failure of the government in effectively dealing with Covid-19 situation.

The Kerala Assembly is meeting on the August 24, a special day-long session, for passing the Finance Bill. Though the Opposition had given notice for no confidence motion on July 27, the session was postponed in the wake of increasing cases of Covid-19 situation in Thiruvananthapuram district. With the LDF having 91 members in the 140 (effective strength 138) member Assembly and UDF 43, the fate of the motion is already decided.

Apart from the Finance Bill, the election to Rajya Sabha seat which fell vacant following the death of veteran socialist leader M.P. Veerendrakumar will also take place. His son M.V. Shreyams Kumar is all set to contest as the joint candidate of ruling LDF while the Congress is likely to field its farmer’s wing leader Varghese Kalpakavadi. Going by the numbers of ruling LDF in the Assembly, it is assumed to be a cakewalk for Shreyams Kumar.

The Opposition has also given a notice for moving motion for the removal of Speaker P. Sreera-makrishnan. The Speaker had come in for criticism for inaugurating a shop owned by Sandeep Nair who is an accused in a gold smuggling case.