Solar scam rocks Kerala assembly, LDF disrupts proceedings

Thiruvananthapuram: The solar scam rocked the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday with the CPI(M)-led LDF opposition disrupting proceedings, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, following which the House was adjourned for a while.

The trouble started after the Chief Minister replied to an adjournment motion moved by LDF for a discussion on the scam, in which prime accused Saritha S Nair levelled bribery charges against Chandy and Power Minister Arayadan Mohammed during her deposition before the justice Sivarajan commission.

Chandy in his reply rejected the charges and said it was painful that the opposition was relying on charges made by an accused in a criminal case. He also said people would reject the opposition's move to use the allegation as a "political weapon" to attack the government.

Opposition leader V S Achutanandan, while addressing the House, made some comments on the CM's family members, prompting ruling front members to stand up and protest.

The LDF members also got up from their seats and moved towards the well of the House and started raising slogans demanding Chandy's resignation. As the opposition members did not heed Speaker N Sakthan's request to return to their seats, he said he was adjourning the House for a while.