National politics is likely to cast its shadow on the Assembly session beginning on Monday, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) tweaking its stand against the Congress and the United Democratic Front in the context of the party’s Central Committee decision.
The ninth session will begin with the Governor’s address on Monday as it is the first one for the year. The Budget will be presented on February 2. This time, the government has decided to go for a full budget session, giving up the earlier practice of going in for a four-month vote on account.
Since Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan happens to be against an alliance with the Congress, he is sure to take hard positions against UDF moves. The LDF will be going into the session with the psychological advantage of having the Janata Dal (United) led by M.P. Veerendrakumar on its side. With the Kerala Congress (M) seemingly getting closer to the CPI(M), it would be interesting to watch its moves on the floor of the house. On previous occasions, the KC(M) was inclined to vote with the UDF. The CPI(M) leadership would try to flaunt its new-found friends who are not in the Congress camp.
Ordinances
Several ordinances would come up for regularisation of bills. The UDF has already expressed its reservations on seven ordinances including the one on Kerala Investment Promotion and Facilitation, amendment to the Kerala Panchayat Act related to dangerous trade and factories, the Kerala Industrial Single Window Clearance Boards and an amendment to the Industrial Township Area Development Act.
Most of these ordinances have been proposed in the interests of ease of business. The UDF is unlikely to push its opposition beyond a point since it had also made similar moves to boost development when it was in power. But the LDF government will have to observe restraint when these bills are taken up for discussion because it could be interpreted as an attempt to follow BJP’s economic policies.
