Thiruvananthapuram — The Kerala Assembly turned into a pitched battleground yesterday following CPI-(M)-led LDF protests that saw lawmakers hitching up their pants, shoving each other and throwing microphones and chairs during the presentation of state budget.
Visuals of what Chief Minister Oomen Chandy later termed as a "black day" in the history of the House, was aired by the media and the images shared extensively on social media.
Describing the action of some MLAs as 'serious', Chandy said the future course of action against them will be decided.
He said LDF members became "wild" as their attempt to prevent Finance Minister K M Mani from entering the House failed and they then tried to prevent the Speaker N Sakthan from entering. "That is why they attacked the podium of the speaker and destroyed the equipment," he said.
Opposition leader, V S Achutanandan charged that no assembly procedures were followed in the presentation of the budget. Alleging that watch and ward staff had "brutally beaten up" protesting opposition MLAs, he said at least 20 members were injured in the melee.
Accusing UDF MLAs-- M A Wahid, Shivadasan Nair and Dominic Presentation of leading the attack against opposition members, Achuthanandan alleged that while Nair hit Jameela Prakasam, Presentation addressed her by her caste name.
(With PTI inputs)