Kerala Chief Minister presents budget amid protests by Opposition

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today presented the 2016-17 budget in the state Assembly amidst protests and boycott by opposition CPI(M)-led LDF demanding his resignation over solar and bar bribery scams.

It was after a 29-year gap that the Kerala Assembly saw a Chief Minister presenting the state budget. Chandy is the fourth Chief Minister of the state to present the budget.

Chandy, who took over the Finance portfolio after former Finance Minister and Kerala Congress (M) leader K M Mani quit in November 2015 after an adverse remark by High Court on the bar bribery case, presented the budget even as the opposition raised slogans demanding his resignation.

The LDF members holding banners and placards raised slogans for a while even as an unfazed Chief Minister continued with the budget presentation.

After sloganeering, the LDF members marched out of the House and boycotted the budget presentation.

Chandy in his budget speech highlighted the various achievements, including the Kochi Metro, Kannur airport projects, during his five-year rule.

The House had witnessed unprecedented violence on March 13, 2015 when LDF disrupted the budget presentation by Mani, demanding his resignation.