Kerala CM led Delhi protest to take place in Jantar Mantar; DMK leaders will join wearing black dress

NEW DELHI: Alleging central Government manoeuvrings that pushed Kerala to a financial logjam, Ministers and LDF MLAs under the leadership of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will conduct a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.

Apart from Congress, all other I.N.D.I.Alliance parties have extended support to the protest. Ironically, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will protest at the same venue on Wednesday, raising the same issue.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arrived in Delhi on Tuesday night. The bevvy of ministers and LDF MLAs will arrive on Wednesday morning. However, no confirmation was received regarding which parties would participate along with LDF in the protest.

It is indicated that the Congress national leadership will skip the protest even after getting an invitation from LDF in Kerala. LDF Convenor EP Jayarajan said that the Chief Minister invited national leaders of DMK, RJD, National Conference, Aam Aadmi Party, JMM, NCP and other Left parties to the event.

CPM leader Elamaram Kareem, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam, and Kerala Congress M leader Jose K. Mani attended the press conference. When asked about BJP minister V Muraleedharan's comment saying the protest was yet another splashing of money from state coffers, the LDF leaders said that everyone would participate at their own expense and denied using state money.

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has sent a letter to Pinarayi Vijayan expressing his support. DMK representatives will come to the strike in black attire.

• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann may participate on behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party.

• The Delhi Police earlier requested to shift the protest venue from Jantar Mantar to Ramlila Maidan, but finally permitted to conduct the protest at the first venue.

• On Wednesday at 11 am, the march will leave from Kerala House under the leadership of the Chief Minister. Representatives of Malayali organizations in Delhi will also participate