LDF raises bar bribe row in Kerala Assembly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Winter session of the Kerala Assembly began on a stormy note today with the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) raising the bribery allegation against Finance Minister and Kerala Congress(M) supremo KM Mani to attack the Congress-led UDF government headed by Oommen Chandy.

Though the opposition members brought up the issue in the question hour itself, they refrained from disrupting proceedings till the zero hour.

At the outset of the zero hour, CPI(M) Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan raised the matter seeking an adjournment on it and accused the government of trying to shield Mani by weakening the investigation by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau ( VACB).

LDF members displayed placards and banners demanding the Finance Minister's resignation and lodging an FIR against him.

Rejecting the opposition demand for an adjournment over the issue, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala asserted that the government did not interfere in the probe by VACB, which he said was not a "caged parrot."

Putting up a brave face, Mani rejected the allegation against him that he had received a huge sum from liquor bar owners for favourable decisions.

A leading hotelier, Biju Ramesh, had alleged that the Bar Hotel Owners Association had paid a big amount to Mani, a veteran politician.