UDF lays siege to Secretariat on October 8 to press for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s resignation

The Congress-led Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) has relied on rebel independent lawmaker PV Anvar portraying Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s (CMO) office as the core of a mafia that controlled the state to create a to initiate an agitation demanding his resignation.

MM Hassan, chairman of the United Democratic Front (UDF), said the opposition would besiege the government secretariat on October 8. At the same time, UDF workers would stage protests in front of district headquarters across the state.

Mr Hassan accused Mr Vijayan of protecting the Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Mr Ajith Kumar, who was accused across the political aisle of scuttling the Thrissur Pooram to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win Thrissur. Lok Sabha constituency by riding the wave of Hindu resentment that swept the parliamentary segment.

Mr. Hassan alleged that Mr. Ajith Kumar, at the behest of Mr. Vijayan, had held secret talks with top leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to strike a deal that would ease pressure from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) would enlighten. Thrissur in return for electoral assistance.

Mr Hassan accused Mr Vijayan of questioning the rule of law by protecting the ADGP, who had accused Mr Anvar of criminality, corruption and illegally amassing wealth. Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala said Mr Anvar’s exit from the parliamentary party CPI(M) in the Kerala Assembly would not silence the allegations leveled by the MLA against Mr Vijayan and his office.

Opposition Leader VD Satheesan accused Mr Vijayan of having a secret understanding with the BJP, an alleged duplicity that contradicted the CPI(M)’s farcical pro-minority stance.

BJP state president K. Surendran said the rule of law had collapsed under Mr. Vijayan’s watch. He claimed that a mafia controlled the government and the police. He demanded immediate resignation of Mr. Vijayan. Mr Surendran said the public had lost confidence in the government. He mentioned Mr. Anvar’s allegations against the CMO grave and justified a central investigation.