Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 17 (IANS): Kerala Assembly speaker G. Karthikeyan, amidst pandemonium created by the Left opposition benches, suspended two first-time legislators for two days for unruly behaviour in the house, especially towards the speaker.
The young legislators of the Communist Party of India-Marxist are T.V. Rajesh and James Mathew.
The events that led to the suspension began on Friday when the two legislators manhandled a woman guard inside the assembly while rushing towards the speaker's podium.
In the evening, the speaker invited all the party leaders to see the video of the melee. Both the rival front leaders stood their ground, with the treasury bench leaders stating that there was misbehaviour and the opposition denying it.
At 8 a.m. Monday,Karthikeyan began a marathon peace talks with the rival fronts that went on till 1.40 p.m.
"Maybe what happened was not done purposely but the two legislators have apologised for their misbehaviour," said Karthikeyan.
Hearing this, Mathew was on his feet and was seen shouting to the speaker that they had not apologised and what the speaker had said was against what was earlier decided.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy then got up and read a statement that in the light of what had just happened, the two legislators who questioned the speaker must be suspended. The resolution was adopted.
Opposition members were up on their feet and started shouting slogans and trooped to the well of the house as the speaker rushed through the proceedings of the day and adjourned the house.
Government chief whip P.C. George told newsmen later that what had happened in the house was unbecoming.
"It was really unbecoming," he said. "All the issues were resolved through the marathon talks since today morning. With James taking a stand like this, Rajesh also stood up and challenged the speaker and, hence, they were suspended."
The opposition continued to remain in the house even after the adjournment.
Former food minister and Communist Party of India legislative party leader C. Divakaran said the suspension was a violation of the agreement reached.
"It is most unfortunate; the suspension came as a surprise to all of us because that was not what was decided at the talks," said Divakaran.