THODUPUZHA: The Governor will go to Thodupuzha to attend a program of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) on January 9, the day on which the LDF Idukki District Committee decided to hold a Raj Bhavan march. In protest against this, the LDF declared a hartal in the district that day. The LDF leaders appealed to the traders' community to skip the event. However, Sunny Paimpillil, district president of the KVVES, said that the program will be held on January 9th as scheduled.

The Governor will be coming to inaugurate the Karunyam Kudumba Suraksha scheme implemented by the KVVES in the district. The program will be held at 11.30 am at Thodupuzha Merchants Trust Hall.

LDF will hold the Raj Bhavan march by mobilising tens of thousands from the district against the Governor's stance of not signing the land assignment amendment bill. Meanwhile, the Governor gave a date to participate in the program of the KVVES on the very same day. LDF district convenor KK Sivaraman, CPM district secretariat member VV Mathayi and others said in a press conference that the decision of the KVVES to honour the governor on January 9 is objectionable. If KVVES does not change its decision, people will respond by hartal. The leaders said that demonstrations and meetings will be held in different parts of the district on January 8 in support of the hartal.

The traders stated that the governor was invited on November 6 and was requested to give the date in December. On January 2nd, the Governor's office informed that he would be able to participate in the program on January 9. Only the members of the KVVES will be participating in the function. The traders also asked whether it was right to oppose the charity event just because the Governor was participating.