News and Views

VHP and Hindu Aikya Vedi leader Kummanam Rajasekharan assumed charge as State president of the BJP here on Saturday.

He will soon convene a meeting of the core committee of the State unit and reconstitute the State Committee of the party. The indications are that he would be inducting many new faces to lead the party in the coming Assembly elections. (updated story)

The Opposition staged a walk-out in the in Kerala Assembly today in protest against the government refusing to accept their demand for an enquiry by Assembly committee into reduction of fire licence fee for high-rise flats.

Government side said a firm no to the demand for probe by Assembly Committee.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the Assembly today that the pay revision for government employees would be announced at the end of January or early in February next year.

Replying to the notice for adjournment motion given by A. K. Balan (CPI-M) alleging delay in implementation of revision, the Chief Minister said that the government was committed to time bound implementation of the recommendations. There was no need for the employees to go on strike for pay revision.

Speaker N. Sakthan today kept off from chairing the House in the morning reportedly in protest against Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala criticising him for asking members to cut short their speeches on Bills on Wednesday.

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition staged a walk out in the Kerala Assembly today after the Chair refused permission to move an adjournment motion on deficiencies in the Health Sector and death of tribals for want of proper treatment.

Health Minister V. S. Sivakumar, who opposed the notice to move the motion, said that government had ordered an enquiry into the death of a tribal girl in Achankovil and death of infants in Wayanad after delivery. Preliminary report was that the girl had died before reaching the hospital.