THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the controversial revelations of Swapna Suresh, the UDF and BJP protests that erupted demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister has spread from the streets to the skies. With this, the Left Front stepped in to mount a joint defence for the Chief Minister and the government. The LDF meeting to be held at the AKG Center at 3.30 pm today will formulate an alternative campaign and defence strategy.

The incident inside the Indigo flight carrying the Chief Minister not only points out the extent to which the protest intensified but also o a major security breach. This is the first time that such a protest took place inside the flight, bypassing the airport's high-security system. EP Jayarajan described the incident as an attack by drunken Youth Congress activists. However, the Youth Congress swore they were not drunk.

Things are escalating into a law and order situation as CPM activists took to the streets yesterday to oppose the protesters. Earlier on Monday, the CM said that there was no ban on black clothes and no one will be stopped on the roads. Although the police did not stop anyone from wearing black clothes, the UDF and BJP activists organized protest meetings wearing black clothes. The police had arranged heavy security for the CM's journey from the Thiruvananthapuram domestic airport to the Cliff House. Meanwhile, tensions spread to the capital as protests escalated. The controversies, which tarnished the government's image while it was celebrating its first anniversary, are a challenge and headache for the LDF. According to the Left Front, the recent revelation of Swapna Suresh was a political ploy by the Sangh Parivar by using central agencies. The move is to intensify the campaign exposing this. It will also strengthen the propaganda that the Congress has a double standard in its approach to central agencies. As the assembly convenes on the 27th to pass the full budget, the UDF is moving to intensify a series of protests against the government.