UDF Demands Chief Minister's Resignation Amid Thrissur Pooram Disruption

The Congress-led UDF calls for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation, citing issues like the police disruption of the Thrissur Pooram festival allegedly to benefit BJP's electoral success. UDF plans evening protests and demands a judicial inquiry, highlighting ongoing internal conflicts and corruption within the Vijayan government.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) announced a 'final protest' on Friday, seeking the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The protest stems from various issues, including the police's alleged disruption of the Pooram festival in Thrissur, purportedly to aid the BJP's victory in the central Kerala Lok Sabha seat.

UDF convener M M Hassan stated that the alliance will hold evening protest gatherings in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram and at district headquarters across 13 districts on October 8. 'The UDF's demands include a judicial inquiry into the Pooram disruption, the resignation of the chief minister for protecting mafias, the suspension of corrupt ADGP M R Ajithkumar, and an investigation into illegal wealth accumulation,' Hassan said at a press conference.

Earlier, the Congress and UDF alleged that police were given orders to disrupt Pooram celebrations to facilitate BJP's Thrissur electoral success, resulting in BJP candidate Suresh Gopi winning Kerala's first Lok Sabha seat. In response to Nilambur MLA P V Anvar's allegations against the chief minister, Hassan clarified that the UDF won't politically shelter the independent MLA, citing ongoing opposition highlights of CPI(M)-RSS corruption scandals.

(With inputs from agencies.)