Thiruvananthapuram, June 11: The monsoon session of the Kerala Assembly beginning tomorrow is likely to be stormy with issues ranging from forest land grab to arrest of CPI leader in the house K P Rajendran, in connection with last week's toddy workers' agitation, providing ammunition to the LDF opposition to attack the Congress-led UDF government. Though the major business before the house comprise department-wise discussion on the budget for 2002-03, certain key bills such as the one to curb labour militancy are slated to be taken up during the session. Having completed one year in office, the UDF is facing the house claiming that the initiatives for structural reforms to pull the state back from the brink of a collapse are beginning to show positive results.

The Opposition, however, would seek to grill the ruling side, arguing that the reform initiatives set in motion would only harm the state.

The controversial guidelines on coverage of the assembly proceedings by visual media, issued recently by the legislature secretariat, is also expected to be a topic of heated debate. Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman had defended the guidelines holding that he had only copied those guidelines relating to media coverage in parliament and they were meant to protect the dignity and prestige of the house.
Bureau Report