Uproar in Kerala Assembly as Opposition attempts to storm Speaker’s podium over Sabarimala ‘gold-plating row’

The Kerala Assembly on Wednesday (October 8, 2025) witnessed unruly scenes as the Opposition members, who staged protests inside the House in the last two days, disrupted the proceedings again with raised placards and banners over the Sabarimala temple ‘gold-plating row’. The protesters also attempted to storm the Speaker’s podium.

Though the attempt was thwarted by the Watch and Ward guards, it led to unruly scenes, with legislators from the Treasury Bench entering the well of the House and locking horns with the Opposition members.

The pandemonium started during the fag-end of Question Hour. Though the Opposition members tried to block the view of Speaker A.N. Shamseer and called for the Devaswom Minister’s resignation and a CBI probe into the ‘gold-plating row’, the Speaker went ahead with the proceedings. The Opposition members then tried to push themselves into the podium of the Speaker when the General Education Minister was replying to questions. 

The guards deployed around the the Speaker’s podium thwarted the attempt. However, witnessing the unruly scenes, Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian rose from his seat and stormed into the well of the house. Then several other MLAs from the ruling side joined him, leading to a minor scuffle between the Treasury and Opposition Benches.

Speaker adjourns House temporarily

Later, the Speaker adjourned the House for a while when there was hardly 10 minutes left for the conclusion of Question Hour.

As the House resumed the proceedings after 10 minutes, the Opposition members boycotted the proceedings when Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan’s speech was disrupted by the ruling side MLAs.

Opposition creating smokescreen: CM

Later, addressing the House, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the Opposition had been trying to create “a smokescreen” by raising scandalous allegations and attacking even women Watch and Ward guards.

The State government has welcomed the High Court-appointed special investigation team (SIT) investigation into the row, and the State is of the view that no one would be spared if there were any irregularities in Sabarimala, he said.  

Mr. Vijayan said the Opposition were not ready to take their demands through the proper channel, as they would be exposed. Instead, they set a new precedent in the country by blocking the view of the Speaker in the House. There is a vested political interest behind their CBI probe demand, and the State has full confidence in the High Court-appointed SIT investigation, said the Chief Minister.

“It’s my constitutional obligation to take the House proceedings forward without any disruption. However, it was unfortunate that the Opposition set a bad precedent in front of the students gathered at the Assembly,” said the Speaker.