UDF Boycotts Kerala Assembly After Speaker Rejects SFIO Probe Discussion

The United Democratic Front (UDF) boycotted the Kerala Assembly proceedings on February 2 after Speaker A.N. Shamseer rejected the Opposition’s adjournment notice regarding a Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) probe into the IT company headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, T. Veena.

The Speaker cited Rule 53 of the Kerala Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, stating that discussions on matters under consideration by the judiciary or a statutory body with investigative powers were precluded. The UDF accused Mr. Vijayan of corruption and nepotism, protesting the Speaker’s ruling.

The SFIO investigation covers financial transactions involving Veena’s IT consultancy firm and a Kochi-based mining company during 2017-2021. The UDF’s abstention disrupted House proceedings, impacting the ruling front’s resolution against the Centre’s alleged interference, which was adopted unilaterally later.