In an unprecedented situation in Kerala’s history, the State government and the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha appeared geared for a showdown on budget day here on Friday.

While the latter two are determined to thwart the presentation of the State Budget by Finance Minister K.M. Mani, who faces corruption charges, the government remains equally firm on its budget day commitment.

With LDF and Yuva Morcha volunteers laying siege to the Legislature Complex from Thursday midnight, the government has deployed a huge police contingent and riot gear.

Mr. Mani, who faced strong Opposition ire inside the House earlier in the day, has chosen to stay back in the Assembly complex.

The LDF members, who began a dharna in the well of the House in the morning, too are staying overnight. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Ministers, and ruling United Democratic Front members have also decided to stay to avoid untoward incidents outside the House.

Yuva Morcha and LDF activists began arriving for the siege from early evening, their numbers appearing set to swell by early Friday morning.

The police blocked them some distance away from the Legislature Complex. Leaders of LDF constituents had a meeting in the evening to take stock of the situation.

LDF convener Vaikom Viswan told presspersons that the Opposition would do everything in its power to prevent Mr. Mani from presenting the budget. Asked how exactly the Opposition proposed to achieve that, he said LDF parliamentary party leaders would take appropriate decisions depending on the situation inside the House.

In a statement late in the evening, Mr. Mani accused the LDF and the Bharatiya Janata Party of having launched an “adjustment” agitation against him. Presentation of the budget was the constitutional obligation of a democratically elected government, he said. By seeking to prevent him from doing that, the Opposition was challenging the Constitution and the democratic process.

Source: TH