THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The stir caused by the fire incident at the protocol section in the Secretariat complex has been a severe blow to the government.

Opposition’s allegation that the fire was purported to sabotage the gold smuggling case has made the government and CPM defenceless. Only ministers like AK Balan and E P Jayarajan explained about government’s stand on the issue on the same day. Even the party secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s statement came yesterday.

Meanwhile, the political space in the secretariat and nearby areas was taken over by the opposition. The opposition leader meeting the governor and demanding an independent probe on the issue has made an impression that something is fishy behind the fire incident. In retaliation, the left circles have raised the allegation that BJP and Congress are staging riots to bring down the government.

CPM circles have the opinion that the party secretary and the chief minister should have intervened in the issue. Left circles are also planning to curb allegations by attributing a political conspiracy angle citing the early arrival of K Surendran on the spot.

Security lapse in secretariat would be also dealt with. Government’s inability to counter the allegations raised by the opposition has become a matter of grave concern among CPM circles. The left front is disappointed over the government being dragged into controversies repeatedly.