Kerala Assembly Suspended After UDF Protests Gandhi Death Threat
UDF protests Speaker’s refusal to discuss BJP leader’s shocking remark.
Chaos gripped the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday as the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) unleashed a fiery protest, forcing an abrupt adjournment. The uproar stemmed from Speaker A.N. Shamseer’s refusal to allow an adjournment motion to discuss an alleged death threat against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by BJP leader Printu Mahadevan. The Assembly, thrown into disarray, will reconvene on October 6.
The controversy erupted after Mahadevan, a former ABVP leader, allegedly stated during a September 26 television debate that “bullets would be fired at Rahul Gandhi” if he aspired to lead protests akin to those in Bangladesh and Nepal. The remarks, made in the context of praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support base, sparked outrage among Congress leaders. A case was registered against Mahadevan by Peramangalam police on Monday, following a complaint by KPCC secretary Sreekumar C.C., but the delay in action fueled UDF’s accusations of government inaction.
UDF’s attempt to raise the issue through an adjournment motion was swiftly blocked by Speaker Shamseer, who dismissed its “immediate relevance or significance.” He suggested KPCC chief Sunny Joseph raise it as a first submission instead, a decision that ignited fierce opposition. Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan slammed the Speaker’s ruling, questioning how a televised death threat could be deemed trivial. “This is a serious matter. The government is protecting the accused out of fear of the BJP,” Satheesan charged, accusing the CPI(M)-led government of shielding Mahadevan to maintain an “unholy alliance” with the BJP.
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As tensions escalated, UDF MLAs stormed toward the Speaker’s podium, only to be restrained by watch-and-ward personnel. Undeterred, the Speaker pressed forward with the day’s agenda, including a Calling Attention motion. Law Minister P. Rajeev took a swipe at the Congress, mocking their delayed response and questioning their loyalty to Rahul Gandhi. “If they truly cared, they would’ve raised this earlier,” Rajeev quipped, further inflaming the opposition.
The protests crescendoed, with UDF members chanting slogans and holding banners denouncing both the Speaker and the government. Unable to restore order, Shamseer adjourned the House for the day. Outside, Satheesan addressed the media, demanding Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan clarify whether a threat to “shoot Rahul Gandhi in the chest” was a trivial matter. He vowed intensified UDF protests, alleging the government’s reluctance to discuss the issue was a cover-up to protect BJP interests.
Meanwhile, in Thrissur, BJP workers staged a defiant march to the local police station, protesting the case against Mahadevan. The situation turned volatile as police deployed water cannons to disperse agitators attempting to breach barricades. The BJP’s demonstration underscored the deepening political divide, with both sides accusing each other of exploiting the controversy for political mileage.
The incident has reignited debates over political rhetoric and accountability in Kerala. Mahadevan’s alleged remarks, made during a discussion on regional protests, have drawn sharp criticism for their inflammatory nature. The UDF contends that the government’s inaction signals complicity, while the CPI(M) maintains that the issue was unfit for Assembly discussion. As the October 6 session looms, all eyes are on whether the UDF’s promised protests will escalate or if a resolution will emerge to quell the storm.
