CPM confronts KM Mani with kid gloves

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Considering the manner in which they went about obstructing the proceedings of the house in the last three-and-a-half years, especially in the Solar scam issue, the opposition’s tirade against finance minister K M Mani in the Assembly on Monday looked tame.

The deputy leader of the opposition, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, made a voluble attack on Mani and the UDF government but also stated in passing that the LDF was not going to hold the house to ransom on the issue.

Here is how Mr Balakrishnan explained LDF’s change of tack: “The government is now hoping that they could rush through important bills in our absence but that will be mere wishful thinking. We will participate in the discussion,” Mr Balakrishnan said.

Inexplicably, such a progressive line was not followed when more important bills on education and excise were tabled in the Assembly.

Mr Balakrishnan’s CD gaffe, which many observers consider as purposeful, was further confirmation that CPM did not intend any serious harm on Mani.

Mr Balakrishnan, a long-time legislator with a thorough understanding of Assembly practices, told the chair that he wanted to table a CD containing damning evidence against Mani in the Assembly. Intriguingly, he did not seek the chair’s prior approval.

Understandably, the chair turned down the request. It also turned out that the CD did not contain any new revelation except a piecing together of news stories that appeared in various news channels.