Thiruvananthapuram: The full-fledged budget session of Kerala Assembly, rescheduled in the wake of the June 27 Aruvikkara bypoll, will begin here on Sunday, with the opposition gearing up to corner the government over the decision of Vigilance not to prosecute Finance Minister KM Mani in the bar bribe scam.
"Vigilance Director has taken a decision not to prosecute K M Mani, for want of sufficient evidence and materials to prove an offence of bribery," a senior official of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had told PTI yesterday.
The opposition had launched a fierce war inside and outside the Assembly against the government, demanding resignation of Mani in connection with the bar case. It was as part of this campaign against Mani, the LDF had decided not to permit the Finance minister to present the budget on March 13.
However, Mani managed to present the budget amidst the unprecedented violence in the House where Speaker's chamber was vandalised and mike destroyed. Some women MLAs of the LDF also complained that the ruling front MLAs had allegedly misbehaved during the scuffle.
After the violence, the House had met for only a day on June 8 and adjourned in view of the bypoll.
During the campaign in the run-up to the bypoll also, the CPI(M) led LDF had highlighted various corruption allegations being faced by government.
Opposition leader in the House, V S Achuthanandan has already given indications that he would approach court against the vigilance director's decision, which is likely to have an echo during the session.
Department-wise discussions on budget allocation and appropriation bill will be passed during the 22-day session, which is now scheduled to be held till July 29.
With the Aruvikkara bypoll result to be declared on June 30, the session is expected to be stormy in the days to come with both ruling Congress-led UDF and LDF taking on each other on various issues.
