Amid Congress-led UDF Opposition members' walkout, the Kerala Assembly today passed the Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualifications) Amendment Bill, paving way for the appointment of CPI-M veteran V S Achuthanandan as Chairman of the proposed Fourth Administrative Reforms Commission.
The bill, moved in line with the CPI-M and LDF's decision to appoint the 92-year-old Left leader to a top government post, was introduced on July 14.
Opposition members used the opportunity to attack LDF and also Achuthanandan, saying the legislation was to quell the internal bickering in CPI-M and to 'silence' the leader by giving him a position.
Referring to Opposition criticism that the new post would result in additional burden on the state's 'Consolidated Fund,' Law Minister A K Balan said people, who had once indulged in spending government funds lavishly, were now expressing concern on additional expense over a new post.
A sum of Rs 450 crore was spent additionally for the 'Mass Contact programme' during the previous UDF rule, Balan said.
S Sharma (CPI-M) said the opposition, by insulting the veteran communist leader, has shown injustice to history.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty, in their dissent note, said it was "misuse" of public funds to appoint a legislative member as the ARC Chairman with all facilities and privileges of a minister.
"This particular legislation is with a selfish motive," the note added.
Lambasting LDF for introducing the bill, Chennithala said it was only to silence the veteran. The legislation can be called 'Achuthanandan bill', he said, ridiculing the ruling front.
There is no situation existing in the state that warranted creation of such a new post, that too at a time when the state was facing a financial crisis, he said, asking Achuthanandan to decide whether to accept the post or not.
The opposition members then staged a walkout.
This is the first legislation of the LDF government
headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that assumed office in May.
The first session of the 14th State Assembly was adjourned sine die after passing the bill.
Under sub-clause (a) of clause (1) of Article 191, a member of the Legislative Assembly shall be disqualified if he or she holds any office of profit under the government of India or any of the state governments, other than an office declared by law.
Therefore, the government decided to amend retrospectively the Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act 1951 to remove such disqualification.
Achuthanandan had led the LDF to an impressive victory in the May 16 Assembly polls by vigorously campaigning for the Left front.
The Left party had decided on Pinarayi Vijayan as the Chief Minister, citing Achuthanandan's advanced age and physical limitations.
Later, the party and the Left Front decided to give Achuthanandan a "suitable top position" in the government.
The Assembly session began with the customary address by the Governor P Sathasivam on June 24.
The budget for the year 2016-17 was presented by Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac on July 8.
