Mon Oct 07 22:53:12 UTC 2024: ## Kerala Assembly Session Begins With Heated Exchanges and Physical Altercations
**Thiruvananthapuram:** The first day of the 12th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly witnessed intense clashes between the ruling and opposition parties, culminating in a physical altercation between a minister and a member of the opposition.
The incident occurred during a debate on the 14th report of the Business Advisory Committee, presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. While the Chief Minister was speaking, Minister V. Sivankutty attempted to move towards the opposition benches, who were engaging in a protest with banners. The Chief Minister, without interrupting his speech, swiftly grabbed Sivankutty’s arm and pulled him back to his seat.
Earlier, the session had been disrupted when Opposition MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan attempted to climb onto the dais during a protest. He was stopped by security personnel, leading to further chaos as other opposition members joined the fray.
The incident is the latest in a string of confrontations between the two sides, echoing a previous physical altercation during the budget presentation in 2015.
The session is expected to be fraught with tension in the coming days, with both sides showing no signs of backing down.
First Piper 