The Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) staged a walkout in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Tuesday after accusing the United Democratic Front (UDF) government of dismissing the plight of ordinary people, who have been hit the hardest by the surge in fuel and cooking gas prices.
Shortly after Shanimol Osman was elected Deputy Speaker, the Opposition party attempted to corner the government by moving an adjournment motion on skyrocketing prices of essential items, blaming rising fuel prices.
Moving the motion, former Finance Minister and CPM member KN. Balagopal pointed out that Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan, as leader of the Opposition, had frequently demanded fuel tax cuts during the previous Left regime.
Replying to the motion, Satheesan highlighted the financial strain left by the previous Left administration. He explained that a decade of Left rule had severely depleted state funds, restricting the current government’s capacity to provide immediate, large-scale relief.
The Chief Minister blamed the previous government’s leftover debts—including about Rs.2,800 crore in State Civil Supplies Corporation dues—for weakening the state’s power to stabilize the market. The government will take all kinds of interventions to stop price hikes and black marketing. Chief Minister VD Satheesan said the previous LDF government increased the fuel cess by Rs 2 when petrol and diesel prices were at their peak.
Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan criticized Satheesan for “skimming over the pain” of ordinary citizens, auto-rickshaw drivers, and household budgets with an offhanded, dismissive response. He accused the ruling UDF of actively blocking a meaningful, structured discussion on the floor of the House.
Concluding his remarks, Vijayan declared that the Opposition could not tolerate the government’s evasive stance. He led an LDF boycott and walked out of the House, protesting the government’s unwillingness to permit a proper Assembly discussion on the matter.