Thiruvananthapuram: The deeply divided Congress in Kerala was spared of an immediate test on the floor of the Assembly as the Legislature secretariat on October 21 rejected the Opposition Left democratic Front's (LDF) notice for removal of Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman, even as the blame- game by rival factions continued unabated.

While Chief Minister A K Antony evaded a direct response to the demand for convening of an early Assembly session to take up the notice against the Speaker as voiced by the Opposition as well as the Karunakaran faction in Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxists) (CPM) deputy leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan held that government was running away from holding the session for fear of failing a trial of strength.

The Legislature secretary had informed Balakrishnan that his notice could not be entertained now as the House was not in session.

Though LDF gave the notice with the contention that the Speaker had 'shed his impartiality', it was seen by political observers as a ploy to capitalise on the infighting in the Congress.

PTI