THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Treasury and Opposition members in the Kerala Assembly almost came to blows on Tuesday following a wrangle over the Opposition demand for Electricity Minister A.K. Balan's resignation following the Ottappalam Judicial First Class Magistrate's order sentencing him to two years' rigorous imprisonment for his participation in blockade of trains on December 18, 2000.

The Assembly had to be adjourned for two hours following the turmoil during which members from the rival sides moved twice into the aisles and came to almost rubbing distance of each other. But for the quick intervention of seniors on both sides, the situation would have gone out of hand. There were shouts and counter-shouts and at one point Saju Paul (Communist Party of India-Marxist), agitated over some remark by K.K. Shaju (Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithy), was seen lunging at him. P.C. George (Kerala Congress-Secular) stopped him before anything untoward happened. Later, senior members from both sides stood between the agitated Opposition and treasury bench members to avert a physical showdown.

Although Speaker K. Radhakrishnan tried his best to restore order, he was successful only once and had to give in when the two sides moved menacingly at each other. He adjourned the House at 9.53 a.m.. The House could resume its sitting only at 11.55

The Magistrate's order sentencing Mr. Balan to two years' rigorous imprisonment and issuing an arrest warrant against him figured in the House in the form of an adjournment motion sought to be moved by V.D. Satheesan (Congress), who demanded the Minister's resignation in keeping with the precedents.

Opposing the motion, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan contended that Mr. Balan had every right to remain in office as the sentence pertained to a popular struggle in which he had participated at a time when he was not a Minister and it was not over any corruption charge.Once the Chief Minister completed his explanation, Law Minister M. Vijayakumar was on his feet saying that the Magistrate's order involved Constitutional and legal issues. However, he could not proceed further as the Opposition members kept interrupting him. An intimidated Vijayakumar told the Opposition benches that if they would not allow those on the Government side to speak, they too would not be allowed to speak. The treasury benches translated his words into action when Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy rose to speak.

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