The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) appeared to throw the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition a curveball by “unexpectedly” allowing an adjournment motion in the Assembly to debate the feasibility of the politically contentious K-Rail (SilverLine) semi-high-speed railway project.
The government’s move to take the wind out of the UDF’s sails triggered a heated three-hour debate and ended with an Opposition walkout after the House rejected the motion by voice vote.
Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had resorted to obfuscation to hide the quixotic scheme’s ruinous environmental and economic consequences. He accused the government of fudging crucial K-Rail data to mislead the public and deployed the police to stifle widespread protests.
