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Govt. unlikely to convene Assembly session

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM NOV. 8. The Government is likely to reject the demand for convening a special Assembly session to discuss the proposed Opposition notice against the Speaker, Vakkom Purushothaman. The State Cabinet at its next meeting on Wednesday is expected to take a final decision on this.

The UDF convener, Oommen Chandy, today disclosed the ruling coalition's thinking on the convening of the Assembly session when he mentioned the practical and technical difficulties in convening the session. The Opposition leaders had met the Governor the other day seeking his intervention to convene the House to discuss the removal notice against the Speaker. The Cabinet had also considered the Opposition plea submitted to the Chief Minister and had resolved that a final decision need be taken after the UDF partners discussed the matter in their respective party forums. The Chief Minister had also said that the session would be convened only if there was a consensus in the UDF.

The UDF partners' meet on Friday had decided against seeking a vote of confidence, proposed by a section in the Congress. The general consensus was that there was no need to convene the House as the Government continued to enjoy a majority.

Addressing media persons after a function, Mr. Chandy said the Government could convene the Assembly only to transact Government business. The notice for the removal of the Speaker was not Government business, he added.

He alleged that the Opposition attempts to kick up a row over the removal notice was a reflection of the LDF's political bankruptcy. He said that there was no threat to the UDF and the outcome of the UDF partners' meeting clearly signified this. In the meantime, the Congress leader, Aryadan Mohammed, welcomed the UDF partners' resolve to ensure the continuity of the ruling coalition.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr. Aryadan Mohammed said the UDF partners' resolve signalled their confidence in the leadership of the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, and strengthening the ruling coalition. He said that the Congress party would not split under any circumstances and the CPI(M) dream of an alternative Government and remote control from the AKG Centre would not come true.

With regard to the issue of trust vote, Mr. Aryadan Mohammed said the proposal was mooted by a section of the Congress leaders and the Chief Minister had no role in it. The Opposition should have moved a no-confidence motion against the Government instead of pressing for its notice for the removal of the Speaker. He said he was confident that the notice, if moved, would be defeated.

The notice against the Speaker did not have any legal validity. He said that the decision to launch an agitation to press their demand soon after submitting a memorandum to the Governor seeking the convening of the Assembly clearly exposed the political motives behind the move.

The RSP(B) State committee also welcomed the decision to depute the IUML leader, E Ahmed, to plead with the Congress high command to intervene in the current crisis in the Congress.

Addressing another press conference, the RSP(B) State secretary, A. V. Thamarakshan, said the current tussle in the Congress had adversely affected the UDF's image. The Government had failed to implement several landmark development projects. It had failed to effectively implement proposals seeking to revive traditional industries and public sector undertakings, besides tackling unemployment.

In reply to a question, he said it was left to the Congress high command to settle the current problems in the party the way it thought fit. The RSP(B) did not want to comment on the internal affairs of a coalition partner, he added.

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