The confusion over the admissions to private self-financing medical colleges and the fee structure, the High Court’s adverse remarks about Health Minister K.K. Shylaja, and allegations of encroachment and misuse of power against Transport Minister Thomas Chandy have given the Opposition enough ammunition to attack the Pinarayi government with.
The Opposition’s only dilemma was in choosing its immediate target. Since the Health Minister had come under fire from the beginning of the current session of the Assembly, stepping up the agitation against her to the next level, by tagging the remarks of the High Court, was a natural course. At the same time, the UDF did not ease its pressure on the Transport Minister, who had to face its irate legislators during question hour in the Assembly. The Opposition also had another issue to take up — the allegations against CPI(M) legislator P.V. Anvar related to his amusement park’s violation of regulations.
The challenge before the UDF is to keep up the pressure on the government, given that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stoutly defended his colleagues. Apart from mounting pressure inside the Assembly, the UDF workers will hold demonstrations in all the 140 Assembly constituencies in the State on Tuesday demanding the Health Minister’s resignation. He said the judgment clearly showed that the Minister had not acted in good faith and she had dubiously extended the date for receiving the applications for nomination as a member to favour certain persons. Mr. Chennithala also wrote to the Chief Minister seeking a high-level inquiry against Mr. Chandy for his alleged encroachment on government property and Mr. Anvar in connection with his amusement park.