The opposition disrupted proceedings in the Assembly on Monday for the first time this session demanding that Anthoor municipal chairperson and CPM leader P K Shyamalan be suspended and a case be slapped on her for abetting suicide following the death of NRI businessman Sajen Parayil in Kerala's Kannur district.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala also resigned as vice-chairman of Loka Kerala Sabha in protest against the government's handling of Sajen's suicide. According to the opposition, it was the infighting in the Kannur unit of the CPM that led to Sajen's tragic fate. “P K Shyamala was angry because Sajen had gone to P Jayarajan asking for help,” opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said.

Minister for parliamentary affairs A K Balan said a case of unnatural death has already been registered by the police under Section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code and an investigation is on. “When to charge a case for abetment or murder will be decided by this investigation,”

Balan said. Secretary's autocracy Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan yet again heaped all the blame for Sajen's suicide on officials. He said a municipal secretary had sweeping powers and made it seem as if the political executive of the municipality could only look on as the secretary went about his whimsical ways.