THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the bedlam in Kerala Assembly over the budget presentation, Governor P Sathasivam said he would report the developments to the President. In what could be seen as a stern warning to both the ruling and Opposition fronts, he also hinted at the possibility of submitting a report to the President under Article 356 which deals with the failure of the constitutional machinery of a state.
While stressing on the necessity to take action against those responsible for unruly behaviour in the House, the Governor has also hinted that he would not intervene in the budget. “The happenings on the floor of the Assembly may even justify submission of a report by the Governor to the President under Article 356 of the Constitution of India,” said an official communication issued from Raj Bhavan.
Governor Justice(retd) P Sathasivam also highlighted the necessity for passing the Appropriation Bill for supplementary Demands for Grants and Vote on Accounts by March 31 as otherwise the state may face a financial breakdown.
He expressed deep concern over the incidents that happened in the Assembly and called for well considered views and proposals from the government to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future.
He also referred to the communication from the Speaker on Saturday and the Legislature Secretary’s report on Friday on the developments in the House on the budget day. In his report, the Legislature Secretary said “the Speaker’s chair was removed from the dais and thrown into the well and even the announcing system was destroyed at the instance of the Opposition members. According to the secretary, the Speaker invited the Finance Minister to present the budget amidst the pandemonium and, accordingly, the Finance Minister presented the budget and Vote on Account.”
As per the Legislature Secretary’s report, the letter from the Speaker and materials like videos and media reports, “it is seen that prima facie pandemonium broke out on the floor of the Assembly due to the protest of the Opposition against Finance Minister K M Mani presenting the budget and several members misbehaved in an unruly manner even towards the Speaker.”
The Governor, however, said it is for the Speaker to call the House in order and it is reported that according to the Speaker he had invited the Finance Minister to present the budget amidst the disturbance.
He expressed deep concern about the happenings.
The Raj Bhavan communique said the Opposition Leader had requested the Governor that Finance Minister K M Mani should not present the budget.
To which, the Chief Minister gave a reply rejecting the same. On Friday, the Opposition Leader approached Governor again raising doubts about the validity of the budget presentation.
The BJP too had filed a representation before the Governor seeking to declare the budget day proceedings as unconstitutional.