Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Raj Bhavan has informed that a decision would soon be taken on convening a special Assembly session as per the fresh recommendation by the State cabinet, on Saturday. The Governor’s Office said that the matter is being examined in detail.
It is being hinted that the Governor would agree to convene a special session on December 31 itself. State Ministers AK Balan and VS Sunil Kumar had met Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Friday, seeking his nod to convene a special session of the House on December 31.
The Ministers have detailed the Governor regarding the decision of the State’s Council of Ministers on convening the Assembly session. In this scenario, it is being hinted that the Governor might decide in favour of the Government’s decision.
"In the light of the discussion we had with the Governor, we hope a special session can be convened on December 31," State Agriculture Minister VS Sunil Kumar said. "There is no standoff between the State Government and the Governor. The Governor did not put forth any particular suggestions to the Government, during the meeting," he added.
"The Central Government need not interfere in this matter at all. Hence, V Muralidharan’s statements do not even warrant a response," Kumar said in response to Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader V Muraleedharan's statement that the Kerala government was focusing on "non-issues".
Earlier, the Government had decided to hold a special Assembly session to discuss on the Centre’s controversial farm bills and to pass a resolution, on December 23. This plan fell flat when Governor Arif Mohammed Khan denied permission citing that there was no emergent situation which warranted to convene the special session. The request was repeated by the Assembly Speaker after the Government ‘clarified’ on the situation and the need for the session to discuss the matter which required immediate attention as it affects the farmers and public. However, it was again turned down by the Raj Bhavan.
Also read: Kerala Cabinet nod for spl Assembly session
Following this, the Government was mulling over passing the resolution during the Budget session in the Assembly, after the State CM marked his protest and informed the Governor that the decision on summoning an Assembly session is not the Governor’s prerogative, citing SC orders and protocols.
Later, the Government has sent a fresh recommendation to the Governor seeking his nod to convene a special Assembly session on December 31. It is said that the Governor has taken a stand so as to avoid any further controversies in the matter. However, a decision is yet to be made.
If the Governor gives the nod, the State Government is all set to hold the special session on Thursday, December 31. The Government is to pass a resolution against the Farm bills and put it to vote in the assembly. The Opposition, however, demands to pass legislation, not a resolution, against the Centre’s Farm bills.
