Oppn boycotts Governor's address on 1st day of budget session

The CPI(M)-led LDF opposition in Kerala today boycotted the governor's address on the first day of the budget session over its demand for the resignation of state Finance Minister KM Mani in the bar bribery case.
As Governor Justice P Sathashivam began his speech, opposition leader VS Achuthanandan stood up and said they were protesting as the Finance Minister had not resigned despite the charges levelled against him.
The opposition members, held up placards and banners demanding that Mani quit his post before staging a walkout.
The governor, meanwhile, continued with his address, in which he outlined the new initiatives of the Congress-led UDF government as it enters its fifth year in office.

The opposition members later staged a demonstration outside the Assembly.
They demanded that the governor refrain from announcing the policies of the government as charges had been levelled against the state's finance minister.
The bar bribery case pertains to allegations levelled by a hotel owner against Mani that he had taken a bribe for a favourable decision on bar hotels, which were closed as part of the government's new liquor policy.