Kerala Assembly stalled as opposition demands minister’s resignation over Sabarimala gold theft case
Kerala Assembly proceedings were disrupted as the opposition demanded Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan’s resignation over the Sabarimala gold theft case. The House was adjourned amid sloganeering and counter-allegations, with the opposition alleging pressure on the investigation and the government accusing rivals of politicising the issue.
A session derailed by protests
The Kerala Assembly witnessed sharp confrontation after opposition parties disrupted proceedings demanding the resignation of Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case. The standoff escalated quickly, with members entering the well of the House, raising placards and shouting slogans, preventing normal legislative business from continuing.
With both sides trading charges and the noise drowning out proceedings, the Speaker adjourned the House and announced that it would reconvene on Tuesday. The adjournment reflected the depth of the political disagreement, and the opposition indicated it would maintain pressure until its demand was addressed.
Opposition alleges pressure on probe, government hits back
Opposition leader V D Satheesan accused the Chief Minister’s Office of exerting undue influence on the special investigation team (SIT) probing the theft, an investigation that the report noted is being monitored under the supervision of the High Court. The opposition framed the demand for resignation as a test of accountability, arguing that meaningful deliberation was impossible without decisive action from the ruling side.
The government and ruling alliance responded by pushing back on the narrative, accusing the opposition of disruption without substance and countering that Congress-linked figures should be questioned about the theft. Exchanges inside the House triggered a broader public war of words outside the Assembly as well.
Political temperature rises beyond the floor of the House
As the confrontation spilled into media interactions, leaders from the ruling front criticised the opposition for what they described as cheap politics and unproven allegations. The opposition, meanwhile, reiterated that the issue would remain central until its demand for ministerial resignation was met.
The episode underlined how high-profile investigations can dominate legislative functioning, especially when parties see resignations and public accountability as bargaining points rather than matters to be addressed through debate alone.