THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: PSC rank holders have decided to intensify their strike in front of the Secretariat. As part of this, they have decided to start an indefinite hunger strike from February 22 onwards. Laya Rajesh leading the protest fainted in front of the cantonment gate causing some concern. She was immediately rushed to the hospital.

In the meanwhile, CPM state secretary A Vijayaraghavan came forward criticising the strike of the rank holders. His criticism was that those in the outdated list are protesting and demanding things that will not happen. Earlier, the CPM had taken a stand against the strike. Ministers and others criticized the strike. Their main criticism was that the strike was opposition’s creation. Chief minister's political secretary Dinesh Puthalam and private secretary R Mohanan held discussions with the association on Friday to find a solution to the problem of job seekers, but was not resolved. Meanwhile, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala instructed KPCC general secretary Mathew Kuzhalnadan and K S Sabrinathan MLA to support the protesters.