God oath clause for Hindu MLAs dropped
Faced with stiff opposition, the UDF has decided to drop its plan to amend the Devaswom Board Act, a move that was aimed at ensuring only such Hindu MLAs who swore by God would vote in the elections to the Devaswom boards.
This was decided at the day-long UDF meeting at Kovalam on Monday. At the same time, the ruling front has urged the LDF to observe legislature decorum so that a new Devaswom ordinance could be initiated. The meeting also decided not to have women representation in the Devaswom Board.
UDF convenor P.P. Thankachen announced these after the UDF conclave. Though there was protest from the Mahila Congress and the allies on the lack of representation for women in the Devaswom Board, the UDF decided against it, he said. The meeting also decided not to increase the number of Devaswom Board members.
The Opposition had alleged that the Devaswom ordinance was intended to prevent voting by many LDF MLAs who had not taken their Assembly oath “in the name of God”.
Mr Thankachen made light of the war of words between finance minister K.M. Mani and revenue minister Adoor Prakash over the land utilisation bill.
Mr Mani had only sent a clarification seeking administrative clearance, which was “blown out of proportion” by the media, he said.
The UDF meeting decided that when it came to policy decisions, matters will be first discussed in the UDF before the Cabinet took a final decision.
Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala will initiate the leadership meet on a regular basis.
Several Congress MLAs resorted to sloganeering in protest against the delay in the DCC and KPCC revamp. Mr Chandy and Mr Chennithala informed them that the two will be finalising the revamp this week itself.
The two leaders will be in New Delhi during November 7-9.
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