Assembly furore: Code of conduct likely for MLAs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With no let-up in the face-off between the ruling UDF and the Opposition LDF over the unruly incidents that happened in the state Assembly the other day, the crucial task of amicably settling the issue would fall on Speaker G Karthikeyan when it comes up for discussion on Monday.The UDF, which was on the back foot over a number of controversies raised against it in the Assembly, would strongly use this issue to score political points over the LDF as well as to enforce  a code of conduct in the House. Already Congress leaders, including former Speaker V M Sudheeran, have said that a comprehensive and strict code of conduct should be in place for legislators in the Assembly. UDF leaders would press for the suspension of the two first-time legislators T V Rajesh and James Mathew for manhandling Watch and Ward staff T V S Rajani Kumari, something that KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala has demanded on Sunday.In all likelihood, the UDF would go for a patch-up with the Opposition with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy taking a soft stand.  Also the ruling front doesn’t want to further escalate the tension inside the Assembly as many Bills and grants for various departments have to be passed in this session itself. The UDF camp will strongly stand by its claim that no CPM leaders was manhandled by the Watch and Ward staff. Lack of visuals to prove the allegation of CPM MLA K K Lathika and Rajesh that they were beaten up by the Watch and Ward staff will add strength to its claim.Another demand that the UDF leaders would put forth will be for allowing mediapersons to examine the video footage of the ruckus inside the Assembly.The CPM, on the other hand, would resist the suspension of its MLAs and is likely to play delaying tactics by proposing the issue to be examined by an Assembly committee. It would not favour allowing the media to examine the visuals, as the footage could clash with the claims of Lathika and Rajesh that the Watch and Ward staff had attacked them. The introduction of code of conduct may go well with the Opposition as formulation of it would take time and could only be carried out after reaching a consensus.